1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. "
Part 2 in a series given to me by my own mother
Help Comes from God
God wants my heart
When a child is born, his heart is quickly given over to those that love him. It isn't hard for the child to trust, love and look to his mother. So, as I look to God, my first love, the infant and child in the beginning looks to his mother, his first love.
Wouldn't it be good for each of us to read the above scripture everyday before relating to our children? I believe God wants our children to begin getting a glimpse of this kind of love through us. So, as I am mothering my children, I must strive to show the love of 1 Corinthians 13 - which I can only have through the power of the Holy Spirit and Christ living in me.
Happiness in Jesus
I have and will be spending many years mothering my children. When am I most happy in Jesus?
- When I allow Him to order my life
- When I enter into regular prayer and fellowship with Him
- When I allow myself to be dependent on Him
- When I am obedient to Him
When I allow Him to order my life: My child will function best in an orderly life as I do. With routine, he will learn what to expect and be able tor relax in it. Without routine, the child will not have the security he would otherwise have. Through prayer, God can show me how to best set up my household so I may serve Him in raising my children and caring for my family.
When I enter into regular prayer and fellowship with Jesus, I can also commit my children to God daily, their spiritual and physical welfare. In order to glorify God, I must be consistent in communicating with Him. Sometimes my children will see me doing this, and other times, God and I will meet alone. There are occasions when I include my child in "meetings with God", impromptu and planned.
I am happiest when I am dependent on God. I, by an act of my will, have chosen to turn my life over to the God who created me. My child is naturally dependent on my from birth through much of his childhood. He is happy and secure in this dependency while learning responsibility.
Obedience to God brings joy. I experience that joy when I am obedient. My child must be taught obedience to experience joy. Obedience is taught through discipline. We must discipline out of love, not anger or impatience. It must be done in a way that the child will not be belittled or feel rejected. Through correction the child learns that he is capable of proper behavior and encouraged, even motivated, to do better. Correction must be done in such a way that the child does not question our love for him.
Ways of discipline for each child may differ and only our Lord can reveal the best way for each child and situation. We will make mistakes but love (the kind we talked about in 1 Corinthians) will cover these mistakes. It is important to remember that our sweet babies learn early to manipulate their parents. With that in mind: a)parents should make all decisions for the very young and still many as they get older, b) parents must be consistent (no matter how the day is going), c) parents must not avoid conflict, they must deal with it, d) parents must not expect too much or too little from their children.
What do I notice when I read this? Freedom. As odd as that sounds and as our culture says that dependency and obedience are opposite of freedom, I see freedom. I am free to be the person God has created me to be and get my identity from Him when I am in relationship with Him, depend on Him and am obedient to what He is calling me to do in my life. The same is true for my children. They have the freedom to be themselves within the security and love of our relationship.
Ways of discipline for each child may differ and only our Lord can reveal the best way for each child and situation. We will make mistakes but love (the kind we talked about in 1 Corinthians) will cover these mistakes. It is important to remember that our sweet babies learn early to manipulate their parents. With that in mind: a)parents should make all decisions for the very young and still many as they get older, b) parents must be consistent (no matter how the day is going), c) parents must not avoid conflict, they must deal with it, d) parents must not expect too much or too little from their children.
What do I notice when I read this? Freedom. As odd as that sounds and as our culture says that dependency and obedience are opposite of freedom, I see freedom. I am free to be the person God has created me to be and get my identity from Him when I am in relationship with Him, depend on Him and am obedient to what He is calling me to do in my life. The same is true for my children. They have the freedom to be themselves within the security and love of our relationship.
No comments:
Post a Comment