BrothersOfTheBook.com

There Is Hope

Proverbs 19-21

What kind of father will you be or have you been?  The same man will often answer that question differently in the two different stages of life represented in that question.  I didn’t have a child until my late 30’s.  I remember watching other parents with their children and thinking to myself “I’ll never let my child act like that or speak to me like that.”  I was, of course, a fool.  My child has done everything for which I secretly criticized others.  In fact, in retrospect, some of those parents I criticized were better at their jobs than I have been.  You know what they say about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.

Consistently applying discipline and guidance to children is extremely hard.  The easier thing to do is to just let the child have their way; easier at that moment anyway.  Children require a great deal of care and feeding and I’m not simply talking about changing their diapers and putting food in their stomach.  They require a parent who cares enough to put the children first and themself second.

I have challenges with my daughter about going to bed, getting up, and doing homework.  These are consistent problems and we are working on them.  At times I would rather just through in the towel and go sit down and vegetate in front of the TV.    There have been a number of times when my daughter has worn me out about homework.  Eventually I stop and ask her “Olivia, what do you think I would rather be doing right now?”  This usually stops the fit and she looks up at me through her bangs with a sheepish look and says “Watching TV?”  And I say “Yes.  I would rather be watching TV or reading a book right now.  Can you tell me why I am not doing what I want to be doing?”  In a soft whisper of a voice she says “Because you love me.”

Her response isn’t a question.  She understands that I hold her accountable because I love her.  The last thing she wants is for me to throw in the towel; doing so would imply that I don’t love her.  I do get exhausted by the effort it takes to deny what I want, reign in my emotions and discipline (teach) my daughter.  At times I feel like I would rather let her get away with what she is doing so I can relax.  I also get to a point where I feel like I am talking to a brick wall; just wasting my time.  She seems to do the same thing over and over again.  My attempts to change her behavior at times seem hopeless.  Ah, but God has something to say about this very situation.

Proverbs 19:18

“Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on putting him to death.”

With Christ all things are possible.  I have mentioned before in this blog one of my favorite non-biblical quotes.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

Christ can change any heart but we must do our part.  This is true in witnessing and it is true in parenting.  While I may feel like there is no hope, God clearly tells us that there is always hope.  The second line of this proverb, however, is telling.  Giving up is sentencing your child to death.  Have you ever thought of it that way?  Yes, they fight us.  Yes, they can be extremely disrespectful and nasty.  Yes, they can hurt us deeply but there is still hope.  We must do our part which includes praying for our children, Christ will do His part and thus there is hope.  Do not let anger take over where love should rule.  Do not throw in the towel for that is setting your heart on putting them to death.  Be faithful in prayer, be faithful in love, be faithful in training for there is hope.

Have a hope filled day!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!