J has recently started crawling. His preferred type of crawling is "army" but sometimes he gets really motivated and will do the "normal" type of crawling. One morning we were reading the story about Noah and the ark. People made terrible mistakes and God stopped them by flooding the whole earth. Noah's family was spared because Noah listened and obeyed God.
One of J's favorite things to do is crawl to things he's not supposed to. Dirty shoes by the front door. A corner of the floor I had not gotten to sweeping yet. A room he's not allowed in, but the door has been left open. A power cord. A fragile toy of his brother's. A breakable object. He will turn and glance at me, either to say, "Is this allowed" or "Am I going to get away with this?" Usually, I feel like he's thinking the latter. I often have to grab him and move him to a safer location. Multiple times. I will call his name when I see him headed for trouble. Does he listen? Most often, no. The forbidden/unexplored object/space is just too enticing. It will take continual practice, learning and a transformed heart for him to listen and obey fully. Sigh, no complete and instant obedience here. It takes time and patience from me, as his parent-teacher. He thinks that he knows better than me. That the unknown-to-him is well worth the consequences, which he doesn't even understand yet, as a not-even 1-year-old.
It's amazing, how many similarities there are between my child and I, and my God and His people.
Manna:
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you apply what you see you and your kids doing to what can be learned from the Bible
Listen and obey God. How: make God your best friend. Talk to Him more than anyone else. Talk more about Him than anything else. Spend time with Him by reading the Bible and praying. Spend time with others that love Him. See His way as the best way.
It struck me, after reading about Noah, that I did the same thing that God did, in a way. He saw that his children were making mistakes, going where they shouldn't in life and He stopped them. He loved them too much to let them get more hurt.
I will never understand completely why God did it the way He did - by flooding the whole Earth - but it is not my job to understand everything God does. It is my job to listen and obey.
I wonder where I am crawling off to. Each moment I am making a choice. Sometimes with enthusiastic motivation and sometimes in a slow dragging-my-way-through crawl. It's either towards God or away from Him. Towards Light or towards darkness. Towards Truth, Goodness, and Beauty or away from their sweet glow. It's always my choice. What pressure! Would it be better if God always made all the choices for me? I stop those thoughts in their tracks because that was not His plan. Thank God, Jesus died for me so my wrong choices don't have to be the end of me. God stops me, gathers me up, and puts me
in a safer location, hopefully, sooner rather than later. He calls my name through the Holy Spirit giving me insight through the Bible or through other Christ-followers. God is the most deliciously tempting thing in the room. Really, it's a no-brainer which way I should choose. Hope and love, or despair and depression. Yet, I still prioritize death over life. Sometimes it feels like I can't get out of that nasty corner once I make that bad choice. But God's hands and loving voice is far-reaching and never stopping. God doesn't run out of energy like I do.
Lord,
Thank you for giving us forgiveness and grace when we make mistakes.
Give us the ability to show grace to our kids when they make mistakes.
Thank you for keeping Your promises and being our Rock.
You are always watching us like we are always watching our littles. Thank You for seeing and loving us.
Thank You for not giving up on us when we disobey.
Help us listen and obey more and more without knowing why or how long.
Help us truly believe that You know better than us, what is best for us.
May we hear You calling us back to You and listen to Your calling.
Give us energy when it seems like we say "no" and redirect all day long with our kids.
Give us insight on how to parent well and eyes for the blessings You've given us.
Amen.