Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Romans 3:10 and Ephesians 2:8,9

I’ve prided myself on not being “one of those moms” who thinks their kid can “do no wrong”. Even so, its funny when a child of mine gets in trouble outside my home, I tend to immediately want to reason away the child’s behavior. Not all the time, but lets face it-us moms are our childrens’ #1 fan. That’s just the way we’re wired.
Anson got in trouble on the bus a couple weeks ago. Apparently he wasn’t staying in his seat, rough housing, etc. (According to his sister he was being mean to them, but she DOES like to exaggerate to get him in trouble). He’s a pretty soft hearted kid, so the picking on those younger than him is one we’re usually not too worried about. Anyway, I was chatting with my SIL about the matter and our conversation went something like this.
Me: I mean, I feel kinda bad for him. It is an hour bus ride each way. That’s a long time to not goof off. Don’t get me wrong, he should be behaving, but I get how it can be hard for an 8 year old to not sit still that whole time after being in school all day.
Kim: That’s how long our bus ride was growing up too.
Me: Yeah, I guess the rules are there for a reason. I just don’t get why he’s having such a hard time. I do a devotional with them every morning before they get on the bus, and pray with them. They should be angels!
Kim: Umm, yeah…pretty sure it doesn’t work like that
Me: WHAT?!? And here I thought I had this mothering thing down!
Obviously some of that was said in jest. All the same it got me thinking. As an adult I spend time every day in the word and in prayer before the kids get up. Does that stop me from being selfish during the day? Responding too hastily to the kids? Having a short fuse with Jerem? Not at all! Romans 3:10-None is righteous, no, not one.
We can try and protect our kids by only letting them watch certain t.v. or no t.v. at all. We can keep them home and home school so they aren’t influenced by the world as greatly. We can pound the gospel into their heads. But WE CAN’T SAVE THEM. Also, WE CAN’T DECIDE THEIR ACTIONS FOR THEM. As much as I’d like to make all the right choices for my kids, I CAN’T. What I can do is continue to teach them from the Word. Continue to pray with them and for them. Continue to raise them in a way that the Lord instructs. (And by “I” I am referring to the parenting Jerem does too. I’m not the only one who deals with the kids.)
Today was a good reminder for me that just like I stray on a daily basis from what I know is right, (after nearly 30 years of life), certainly my kids aren’t going to be perfect and only make choices that are right. How thankful I am for the promise of Ephesians 2:8-9
For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH. And this is not YOUR OWN DOING; it is the GIFT of God, not a result of WORKS, so that NO ONE my boast.
Our children will be instructed daily as to the way they should live as a child of God who has a testimony of His salvation.  But they will grow up knowing that it isn’t on any good deed of their own that they are going to make it to heaven. Its not by being good on the bus, its not by not lying, not teasing. It’s by our Saviours finished work on the cross and that alone. Praise the Lord!!
fall shoot 015

2 comments:

~ Tandis ~ said...

Beautifully put. It's not by what we do but what He did. The best thing we can do for our kids is pray for them.

(You're a great Mom) :)

Anonymous said...

Very encouraging thoughts, Micah.

Over and over I remind myself it's not my righteousness (through Christ) or my faith (in Christ) that will change my kids.

When the kids were little and sat when I said sit and ate when I said ate, I thought it was pretty much downhill from there. I was wrong.

I've learned the parents are in a way the schoolmaster, just as the law, that helps lead kids to Christ. That's what makes our job of correcting, instructing and disciplining so important and needs to be done with grace and mercy in the correct measures.

Do I have any answers? No. I know less now than when I started.

But, I agree with Tandis, you are a great Mom, your faith is strong, and you are leading your kids in the paths of righteousness. When we are weak, HE is strong.

love you!

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