Filed under: Personal reflections
For those of my readers who have kids, this will be especially interesting to you. Who knows, maybe it is something that you have thought about, but it is something that is really on my heart and mind as of late.
I think that so often, we make finding the sin in our lives very difficult. What I mean is this: we pray and seek God, and cry out to Him to reveal the shortcomings in our lives, when all to often, our shortcomings are running around in front of us all day, every day.
Whether we like to admit it or not, our kids are a reflection of who we are. They pick up on the bad habits as much as, if not more so, they do the good ones that we exhibit from day to day. They are a constant reminder of our need for God’s grace and mercy and patience in our lives. Let me illustrate.
I have been asking myself for the last couple of weeks to determine how I can do a better job as a father and chief discipler in my home. The answers to my question have been downright humbling! As I watch my children, I have realized that I am VERY over dramatic. When I punish them, I try to come across as angry and someone to be feared. I raise my voice to a decibel level that shouldn’t be heard (at least not when I’m angry). Often, the kids respond to me, and do what I say, but there are times when a tantrum breaks out.
When my kids scream and throw a fit, I find myself staring into a mirror. Very often, they are putting on a show. They are throwing a fit to get some kind of a reaction out of me. They want to show that they are in control by acting like someone they are not.
Who’s to blame for this behaviour? They’re just kids, right? They’re doing what all kids do! WRONG!
My kids are doing what they see me do. Sure they’re kids, and I don’t expect them to be perfect, but I do have high expectations for them. I do not want them to manipulate to get what they want, yet that is what I have taught them. I have taught them that manipulation and conniving will get them the desires of their hearts, which at this point in their young lives is simply to be in control.
With God’s help, I will be learn to control myself and discipline my kids in a way that is pleasing to Him.
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Well, I finally gave in and jumped on board the wordpress train. I was resisting, but my friend Nate Long had this great idea for a new blog where 3 Messianic brothers discuss Torah. Since he invited me to be one of the three, I needed a wordpress account, and well, the rest is history.
