I am beginning to understand...
These are not my children, they are God's and these children are more than just a gift from God, He has entrusted me with their well-being.
I am a steward. I have been given wards to raise, nurture, teach, lead, and utterly love. My children are God's children, given to me so that I may care for them.
That's a pretty big responsibility.
When I look at my children through these eyes, I begin to change the way look at them, the way I speak to them, the way I love them.
I ask myself, how would God speak to them? Especially when I feel I'm being harsh. Or raise my voice when volume is not needed. {These are also the times I thank God for not talking to me that way.}
Rules still exist in this house, there is still discipline, as I fully believe we need rules and limits. God even gave us rules by which to live {remember the 10 Commandments?!}. Paul told us of the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. {Gal 5:22,23}
I feel he could have been yelling, "Rose, pay attention to this!!"
So everyday, I thank God for this chance to serve Him, for this awesome challenge. For is there a better way to show my love for Him than by loving them?!
Rose, this is such a brilliant reminder that they are His! And I should be treating them with the same love and patience and kindness He has afforded me!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I SO wish you would have been here for coffee today. I would have loved that beyond what I can express. I miss you.
So true, and such a good reminder! Being a parent IS such a big responsiblity, but not just in the ways of making sure we take care of them and keep them safe and healthy, which are pretty big ones in themselves! The way we show them God's love is -- perhaps more than anything else -- vital.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post :)