Categories
Daily Post

Driving Lessons

My oldest heads off to drivers education class this week.  And what a relief that is.  Teaching a opinionated young man to drive a speeding bullet is much more stressful than I ever imagined.  It’s pretty nice to be able to outsource a little bit of the finer details of this education to someone who must have nerves of steel! Seriously, just imagine if your job was to drive around in a  compact car with first time drivers all day long!

Of course, what I really dread about this, is that when he comes home with all this new knowledge in hand, I have a strong feeling that my driving will be uses as a place for him to critic and test the value of what he has learned.  I would love to say “do as I say, but not as I do boy!”  But for some reason, I don’t think that will fly… Just like it doesn’t in other parts of life.

6 Always remember these commands I give you today.7 Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 New Century Version (NCV)

 
Yep, we are to remember, teach and talk about these commands as often as well can.  And of course, the best way to make that happen is to make sure you are living it as well.
 
Watch your speed, and make sure your example is one that others should follow.
 
Categories
Daily Post

16 and Life to Go

16!…  It’s hard to believe, but my oldest child turns sixteen today. I sure hope that I have been able to create an environment over that time where he was able to “listen.. to his father’s instruction” as Proverbs 1:8 admonishes  us all to do.

It’s prayer for him that as he continues to mature into manhood that he will seek the wisdom and instruction discussed in Proverbs 3.  ( I can’t believe I mentioned manhood and him in the same sentence.  I guess my AARP card will be coming soon!)

As for you guys.  As all of use continue to mature spiritually, it might be a good time to stop and see if we are listening to the corrections and instruction from our heavenly father.  There is wisdom there that will manifest itself in many great ways:

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere  James 3

Categories
Daily Post

Lessons from Parenting

I mentioned early this week that the toils of having a 15 year-old son in the house is teaching me a lot about mercy, and grace, and that I would tell more about that later.  Here’s the later.  Hope it’s worth the wait! (it was a whole day!)

Any of you who are parents have experienced those days when your children take you to the edge, either through behaviors, or ( in most cases) attitudes.  I have discovered it is in those times where once you regain you right mind great opportunities for growth are to be found.  In those instances we can understand so much about our relationship with God.  Try this on.

You as a parent tell your child to do X or probably Y will happen.  He doesn’t.  Tomorrow, you tell you child to do X and remind him about Y. He doesn’t.  And the next day and the next day and the next day.  And then finally Y occurs, and your child is absolutely stunned and upset. And blames you!

I hope that sounds familiar to two of your relationships.  ( in case that is confusing, I am talking about you as a parent and you as a child of God.)

But what happens next is the most confusing and where the lesson really is.

As a parent, you love them anyway.  You offer them grace and mercy, and forgiveness, because you want them to be successful.

Sound familiar?

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8

Hm.. That probably wasn’t worth that wait, but I hope you that are parents consider how your parental relationship can teach you about how God is and that you can use that to emulate both as a child and as a parent!

Categories
Daily Post

Always Something

As you know I have teenager.  Its always something.  Help with Algebra, help with his computer, where are my shoes, I need money.  Its always something! This morning it was “Where is my wallet?”.

ARGH.

Man, I wanted to react like this:

Matthew 17:17 (New American Standard Bible)

17And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”

But knowing that what I am doing as a father is showing him his heavenly father, I had to look past that.  Yes, there are times to overturn tables with a teenager.  And Jesus took the approach with those who held him in complete contempt.  But most of the time his approach is more like this:

Matthew 7:7-11 (New International Version)

7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Yes, God is patient with us.  He is OK with us asking.  He is ok with us bringing it again and again and again and again and again and again and again etc etc.  Just ask he says.

Man, if I could just be that kind of father, and friend.