Actor & Comedian Ray Romano is quoted as saying, “The more I go through parenting, the more I say I owe my mother an apology.” Too funny and TOO true! I remember about eight years back when I was a mother of a post toddler, a soon-to-be-tween & a pre-teenager, I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing a majority of the time. Some days, the goin’ was pretty smooth. However, when “those” times came—the ones where behavior problems, entitlement issues and disrespect rose up—then I would lean on the wisdom of the great parents I knew who had gone before me.
One of the best nuggets of advice I ever received on taming “those” behaviors was from a mother of five. She suggested starting with three things before trying any kind of punishment: 1. Get eye contact (have them stop what they’re doing and look me in the eye), 2. Cut back verbal freedom (no interrupting…stay still & listen) & 3. Require a verbal and physical response (“Yes, mom.”). After laughing under my breath at this simplistic method, I decided it was worth a try—and let me just say, I was amazed at the results! When I expected them to pay attention to me, look me in the eye, show respect in the middle of it, and then have them agree with me at the end, (as long as I applied it consistently,) we had a whole new relationship of great conversation, mutual respect and order in our household.
Could the same be true in our spiritual lives as well? The correlation is truly amazing! God is our Father, and “those” times come for us as His sons and daughters, too. Could the same three actions listed above apply in the relationship with our Heavenly Father?
Action #1: Give Him Eye Contact
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? Psalm 121:1
“I lift up my eyes to you, to You whose throne is in heaven.” Psalm 123:1
“But my eyes are fixed on You, O Sovereign LORD; in You I take refuge…” Psalm 141:8a
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2
Action #2: Cut Back on our Verbal Freedoms
“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” Matthew 13:16
“Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10a
“but I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:2
“….turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding…” Proverbs 2:2
Action #3: Grant Him a verbal & physical response
“In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’
‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered.” Acts 9:10b
“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.” Psalm 119:60
“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’” Luke 11:23
“This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome….” 1 John 5:3
If we can ask children to “Stop, Look & Listen” before they cross the street, maybe we can remind ourselves to do the same before we kick off the comforter. And the exclamation mark can be to end our day in joyful obedience! This is impossible to do on our own, friends. Just as a youth needs a loving parent to help him do these things, so we need our Daddy’s help as well. When we ask Him for it, He will not disappoint us: “’Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6b)
By the guidance of the Holy Spirit, hopefully each of us can be heard quoting the following: “The more I submit to His parenting, the more I say ‘Yes, Lord’ to my Heavenly Father in place of an apology.” Not out of legalism or earning his favor; but out of a heart that loves and receives God’s love and help freely. Yes, Lord, enable us to live this way today.
LauraLee is a disciple of Jesus, wife of 23 years, mama bear turned coach to 3 teenagers,mentor, writer & speaker. Her heart is to live out her faith authentically before God & others, and to encourage other Christian women to do the same, no matter the circumstance or struggle.
Dallas, Texas · FaithColoredGlasses.com, Facebook Page, Twitter
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