Thinking like children

As a parent, I expect my children to obey me when I ask them to do something (clean their room; pick up their toys, clothes, shoes,...). I am pleased when they respond after the first request. I sometimes think to myself-"Yeah! I must be teaching them something right". On occasion, that sense of pride begins to overtake my thoughts. I begin to think that my child has turned the obedience corner (so to speak) and I will not have to deal with a disobedient child ever again. Ha!

Maybe a day or two goes by and I ask one of my children to do something they do not particularly enjoy doing (helping with the dishes, fold the laundry,...). Suddenly, my obedient child is replaced by a child that could not have been raised in my household. Who swapped my kind, considerate child with the one in front of me right now that is whinning about matching the clean socks in the laundry basket?

As I ponder this interesting Jekhl and Hyde phenomena that happens in my house, I cannot help but wonder how my Heavenly Father wonders about my reactions when He asks me to do something.

I can say there have been clear times in my life when I know His good and perfect will for me and I have obeyed whole-heartedly. However, I also know there have been times when I have whined and pleaded with God to let me do something else-something that I enjoyed instead of something that I either knew nothing about or that I clearly did not enjoy.

Thankfully, I serve a God who loves me no matter what my attitude. He desires obedience but He loves me even when I whine. His patience with me is tremendous. Just as I continue to teach my children the importance of obedience (the first time), God continues to teach me the same lesson.

Why do I too often think and react like my children? I believe it is because I am still growing spiritually. I too need a loving parent to guide me gently into obedience. I need to remember how loving but firmly God teaches me to obey and then try to model that to my children.

Do you struggle with thinking like your children too?

Obedience

Last summer when I attended "She Speaks", something drew me to attend several sessions on blogging. I had heard of blogging, knew a few bloggers, and even had read a few blogs here and there but never really had a huge desire to begin blogging myself. After attending the informational sessions at She Speaks, I resigned myself to the thought that it would be years before I would really be interested in starting a blog site.

Well, never say never. God had different plans.

God's clear nudging began in February during not only my quiet times I spent with Him but also as I participated in a Mom's Bible Study group at my church. "What Lord? You couldn't mean me. I know nothing about blogging." I tried the arguing thing but who was I kidding.

I then made the mistake of telling my teenage daughter about some of God's confirming signs regarding blogging. With no sugarcoated kindness, she quite pointedly said "Mom, don't you get it. God wants you to start a blog. So when are you going to do it?" Ouch!!! "Couldn't you have been a bit nicer?" I thought.

Sometimes the Lord uses our children to grab our attention.

The time for obedience to God's clear direction was now. I had learned years ago that delayed obedience was actually "disobedience". Who was I to argue with the God of the universe?

While this site will go through some more additions and modifications as I learn more about blogging, the main goal will stay the same. My goal is to encourage and equip women to see that their true beauty and worth are found in a God who has created them in His image.

I look forward to the journey together.
Created in His Image,