From The Mouth Of Babes

Have you ever been reminded by your children of something that they say you've said, but you don't have a clue as to what they are talking about? Have you made promises to them that you didn't keep? Have you made plans with them that you've changed at the last minute? I have. I've also found on such occasions that I've made myself some enemies that wouldn't forget nor be willing to forgive. I've also found out that I have to apologize and make good on something better for the future in order to be at peace.

I remember one time when I overheard a teenager arguing with her father about a certain promise made. It seemed that he told her a few years earlier that she could start dating at a certain age. However, when the young lady was of age or a little older of course the father didn't remember that he made such promise. He didn't even seem to agree to the thought of it? Now was it convenient for the father to forget, or was the child lying? Having been a teenager and having experienced the certain mindset associated with that age, I was thinking I'm sure that the child didn't forget what the Father said because it was important to her. Probably the father forgot that he said it. As parents, wouldn't we also forget statements made that are not consistent with our values and what we want for our children in their lives?

Raising three children and being around a few others, I can tell you that children rarely forget what an adult tells them, especially their parents. They have a tendency to hold us on to our promises until we give up. They also will tell us truth about ourselves that we don't want to hear. When I try to have candid feedback conversation with my children, I often have to stop the conversation after a certain time because their truthfulness is too much to bear at times.

I also have the tendency to look for certain behaviors to reinforce in my children and emphasize ways I want things done. In one of those moments when I thought I was reasoning with my firstborn logically and making a good point, he told me that not only he is not a type A personality like me, but that I can also be all the other personality types that exist at times. He also didn't have any shame or fear to tell me that his father and I are two “weirdos”. That was the end of the conversation at that time. What is this statement supposed to mean to a parent?

Can you imagine if our heavenly Father was as inconsistent as we are to our children about His promises to us? Thank God He didn't leave us clueless. What are our opinions of Him? Do we love, trust and believe Him wholeheartedly? Do we know that He knows our heart and wants the best for us? Do we know that He knows our thoughts before we say a word? (Psalm 94:11; Psalm 139:1-4; Isaiah 66:18) We can't hide anything from Him.

The bible says that the promises of God in Christ Jesus are Yea and Amen! (2 Corinthians 1:20) Do we know His promises to us? Do we also shut up our heavenly Father when He leads us to certain behavioral attitudes to change, amends to make, toys to share -- whether it be our time, houses, cars, food, money -- and love to spread etc. Do we listen to Him and act when we read the bible and see what He wants from us, how He wants us to behave, and what He wants us to do.

Do we know Father's heart and understand that Father always wants the best for us. If we are not sure about how Father feels about us and His promises to us, it may be time to start reading the bible again. We could start with the gospel of John moving to Ephesians and continue with reading the precious epistles as the Holy Spirit Father leads. Let's never forget that we are accepted in the Beloved! Let's love Him unconditionally and give Him first place in our lives.

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28)

Marie Monaus