Spiritual Lessons From Parenting, Part II

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9

When our first daughter, Kira, was the ripe old age of three, she thought she knew more than her parents.

One afternoon Kira was jumping on the sofa directly behind an oversized coffee table.  Daddy had just warned her to stop, lest she injure herself.
“No, I won’t…”

BAM!

Off the couch and into the table, head first.  Daddy scooped her up in a second, consoling her as she screamed.

Hmmm.  Should have listened, Kira.

How often do we ignore God’s laws?  We assume we can avoid the negative consequences and that we won’t get hurt.

But, there’s a reason God is God and none of us is.  He can see the big picture, we, even as adults cannot.  We can’t know all the possible outcomes and just how bad they really can be. (Remember Lot’s wife: Became a pillar of salt for sneaking a peek!)

One of the best lessons we can teach our children is obedience to God and His laws.  And we as adults need to set that example.

You will make mistakes.  Let your kids see you ask God for forgiveness, that mom and dad are human too.  And God still loves her or him.  Point out the consequences you are paying for your mistakes, and the grace God extends over those consequences, that they are not worse.

Just as John scooped up Kira, God is always nearby, watching us as we do dangerous things, waiting with open arms to restore us back to solid ground.  And even though we may make poor choices He never runs out of forgiveness.  We only need to ask.

Reflections:

1) How do I “reason” my way out of obedience?

2) What area in my life needs work on being obedient to God?