God entrusted us with His children — but learning to live that truth is one of the hardest parts of parenting. In this week’s episode, my mom shares a deeply personal message about surrender, trust, and releasing our children into God’s care, whether they are still under our roof or grown and living across oceans.

Through Scripture, real stories, and her own journey of letting go, she reminds us that:

• Our children belong to God first

• We are stewards, not owners

• God has a unique plan for each child

• His love and protection go far beyond ours

• Trust grows when we surrender fear

If you’re a parent navigating worry, fear, overthinking, or the ache of letting go, this episode will meet you with peace and encouragement. God sees your heart. He sees theirs. And He never lets go.

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Scriptures in this Episode

Psalm 139

Psalm 127

Deuteronomy 6

Proverbs 22

Ephesians 5

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28

1 Samuel 1

Psalm 103

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Episode Chapters

00:00 — Intro & Welcome

00:38 — God Entrusted Us with His Children

01:20 — God Formed Our Children

02:01 — Parenting as Stewardship

03:33 — The Struggle of Letting Go

05:56 — The Motorbike Story

07:58 — Children Are God’s Heritage

09:42 — Training Them in Love

10:58 — God’s Plan for Their Future

13:34 — Accountability Before God

23:58 — Hannah’s Surrender

25:38 — When Children Face Trials

26:15 — Scriptures to Hold Onto

26:39 — Final Encouragement

27:10 — Outro

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Listen, Follow & Connect

Full episode library: https://fruitfulfig.ca/podcast

Recommended tools & resources: https://fruitfulfig.ca/finds

Join the community: https://fruitfulfig.ca/links

Appreciating Family Members: Why Gratitude Matters in Your Home

Verbal appreciation is more than politeness — it’s a spiritual discipline that strengthens relationships, builds trust, shapes behavior, and creates a healthy family culture.

In this episode, Lynette Steyn-Laurens shares ten practical ways to speak life into your home through intentional gratitude.

💡 Key Ideas

• Specific appreciation strengthens connection

• Written notes make love tangible

• Trust grows when families communicate openly

• Gratitude encourages positive behavior

• Healthy homes require healthy conflict resolution

• Children copy what they see — not just what they’re told

• Family traditions create belonging

• Emotional intelligence can be taught

• Appreciation builds resilience

• A Christ-centered home begins with your priorities

📖 Scripture

Genesis 18:17–19

Philippians 2:1–2

Proverbs 22:6

1 Timothy 5:8

Colossians 3:20

1 Timothy 3:5

Genesis 2:24

🙏 A Prayer

“Lord, help our homes become places of appreciation, peace, and nurturing love.

Teach us to speak gratitude and build each other up daily. Amen.”

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🎧 Listen on all platforms

Spotify → The Fruitful Podcast

Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fruitful-podcast/id1849316505

Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ad1d6732-68ec-4de4-8e94-90bb4ba75623

Audible → https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0FY5V39YD

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@Fruitful_Fig

🌐 All links → https://fruitfulfig.ca/links

☕ Support → https://BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

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🙌 Credits

Thank you to JustGospel Radio for broadcast permission.

#TheFruitfulPodcast #FamilyAppreciation #ChristianParenting #FruitfulFig

Keeping Your Children Rooted in Faith & Church Community

What helps a child stay connected to a church community once they grow up and make their own choices?

In this conversation, Lynette Steyn-Laurens explores why church involvement matters for a child’s spiritual, moral, and emotional development — and what truly helps them stay rooted long after they leave home.

From spiritual growth and moral foundations to belonging, friendships, and purpose, this episode shares both the benefits of raising children in a church community and five practical habits that increase the likelihood of lifelong connection.

Whether you’re raising toddlers or teens, these principles offer guidance, encouragement, and a reminder that strong roots begin at home — and are strengthened in community.

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Key Themes

• ​Why church community matters for children
• ​Faith as emotional strength in difficult seasons
• ​Spiritual and moral development
• ​Belonging, friendships, and accountability
• ​Why many young adults drift from church
• ​Five research-supported habits for building lifelong roots
• ​The role of mentors and multi-generational faith
• ​Balancing home discipleship and church involvement

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Scripture

Proverbs 22:6 — “Train up a child in the way he should go…”

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Credits

Host: Chéri-Lynn Roodman

Guest: Lynette Steyn-Laurens

Originally aired on JustGospel Radio — shared with permission.

Listen to all episodes → fruitfulfig.ca/links

Support the podcast → BuyMeACoffee.com/FruitfulFig

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Tags

Christian Parenting, Family Faith, Church Community, Children and Faith, Raising Kids, Discipleship, Christian Mom, Christian Family, Fruitful Fig, The Fruitful Podcast, Lynette Steyn-Laurens, Biblical Parenting, Spiritual Growth, Christian Living