Have you ever thought of obedience as protection? Why do you want your children to do what you ask? Should children have to do you what you ask all the time? When and why do they get to choose? Is teaching your children to obey just about ‘nice’ manners?
Recently these have been questions crossing over my own mind as my children, aged 2 and 1, have been expressing their will. I find it amazing at times the little things that become a huge drama. Getting dressed in the morning, getting out of the bath when asked, being asked to wait for a minute, eating the food you’ve been given; these have been our battle areas lately and no doubt they are encountered by all parents. I know that this season will pass but what I don’t want to see is my children as teenagers or adults years throwing tantrums because I found it too hard to train them while they were young. More importantly though, I want my children to know that God created them with a purpose and for them to know the glory of His plans means that they need to let go of their own will, just as I need to.
As we head to Easter I think constantly about Jesus and how He died for me. The amazing thing is that Jesus, although He was God knew what it was to let go of His own will. He didn’t find it easy but His cry to God the Father before being taken away was ‘not my will but Yours be done’. He had learned to be obedient.
Jesus showed us the way and God made a promise for our children; they will live long if they honour their father and mother. In order for our children to receive this promise, we as parents must show them the way
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.