Sometimes, we have to let our kids fail.
Two weeks ago, our 6th grader was assigned a project that will be a significant portion of his social studies grade. He knew it was coming, was given class time to work on it, and was apparently reminded at his mother's house and at school on Friday that the assignment was due on Monday. So today, when we asked him to get out his work to transfer to a poster board, he had nothing. NOTHING! He allegedly "left it at school". He insisted that he didn't need the stuff from school---he had it memorized (at this point, the existence of said "stuff" is questionable.) Rene' wanted to help him; babysit him so he would do a good job, but I disagreed. If Joe wants to throw together a haphazard piece of junk and turn it in, we should let him. He has to learn the consequences of doing things carelessly, and if we intervene every single time he chooses to do the wrong thing, we are going to have a serious mess on our hands when he gets older. I am sad that Joe made the choices he did, but he is now going to learn a valuable lesson: accountability. He is going to reap the consequences of a poorly done project and hopefully, it will serve as a reminder in the future when he ignores his work.
I was thinking that the lesson we are trying to teach Joe can be very much like the lesson God is trying to teach me as His child. God sometimes has to let me fail in order for me to learn what He has for me. If God stepped in every time I blew it, what would I learn from that? If I do my "homework"- study His word and ask Him for help-He will guide me. But, if I turn away from Him, go my own way and ignore the "lesson plan", I undoubtedly will end up having to take the class again. Following directions, doing it right the first time and asking for help when you need it is a great way to get a passing grade in 6th grade...and in life lessons.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
My Holy Rottweiler
I have been thinking the past couple days that Satan is a stinky, sneaky jerk.
Imagine you are walking down a scenic garden path. Sun on your hair (which is super shiny by the way!), spring in your step, just feeling good and loving life. You turn a corner and sitting in your path is a gigantor beastie who just happens to adore shiny-haired meat. What to do? Do you ponder the intricacies of his razor sharp teeth? Wonder if his breath is bad? Observe that he has some red strands of hair sticking out of the corner of his mouth and wonder if that's the buxom gal from "Mad Men"? Heck no! You run like crap! That's what I would do- RUUUUUUNNNNNN! All of the sudden, I am Flo Jo, Carl Lewis and Obi-Wan Kenobi all in one (I threw Obi-Wan in there because I imagine that the cloak flowing behind me as I run would obscure my chaffing thighs.)
Now, wouldn't it be awesome if Satan's machinations were as obvious to spot as that a gigantor beastie? When you plainly see a beastie, you run. It's that simple. The problem is, Satan is a stinky, sneaky jerk. He is rarely that obvious. Rather, he is a subtle, conniving liar that has just enough garbage on you to make his lies seem credible.
Imagine you are walking down a scenic garden path. Sun on your hair (which looks fabulous darling!), feeling good about life, when a tiny Jack Russell terrier bolts out of the bushes and starts nipping on your heels. At first it's annoying and you shoo the little dude away. You continue down the path, a little distracted, not as happy as before, but still, life is pretty darn awesome. You turn a corner and out pops the Jack Russell who starts nipping at your heels. You shoo him again, but this time, he doesn't leave. You start to walk faster, but he just keeps dogging (pun intended) your every step. That little dog is distracting you, annoying you, and as you harbor thoughts of punching that dog right in the snout, making you feel like the worst person in the world. Pretty soon, this glorious walk is not so glorious anymore. In fact, it downrightsucks stinks and you are DONE. You stomp off the path, climb a tree and wait it out. Well my friend, Satan is the nipping Jack Russell terrier on your heels as you walk down the garden path.
It's easy to run from the gigantic temptations in our paths. We recognize the beast for what he is-it's clear and easily identifiable. The problem for me, and I suspect you, is that it's the little things that trip us up.
Needless to say, all these "little things" can lead to bigger problems later. Imagine how much better it would have been if rather than "shooing" the Jack Russell away, you immediately pulled out your Rottweiler and told Mr. Rottweiler to "get 'em!" That Jack Russell would have been tearing off so fast, he would have left half his hair on the ground.
God and His Word is my Rottweiler. Because He lives in me, I have access to him 24/7. The error in my thinking is that I honestly believe I am walking down any path-be it sunny or stormy-alone.
So, watch out for the nippers and the beasties....it's dangerous out there!
Imagine you are walking down a scenic garden path. Sun on your hair (which is super shiny by the way!), spring in your step, just feeling good and loving life. You turn a corner and sitting in your path is a gigantor beastie who just happens to adore shiny-haired meat. What to do? Do you ponder the intricacies of his razor sharp teeth? Wonder if his breath is bad? Observe that he has some red strands of hair sticking out of the corner of his mouth and wonder if that's the buxom gal from "Mad Men"? Heck no! You run like crap! That's what I would do- RUUUUUUNNNNNN! All of the sudden, I am Flo Jo, Carl Lewis and Obi-Wan Kenobi all in one (I threw Obi-Wan in there because I imagine that the cloak flowing behind me as I run would obscure my chaffing thighs.)
Now, wouldn't it be awesome if Satan's machinations were as obvious to spot as that a gigantor beastie? When you plainly see a beastie, you run. It's that simple. The problem is, Satan is a stinky, sneaky jerk. He is rarely that obvious. Rather, he is a subtle, conniving liar that has just enough garbage on you to make his lies seem credible.
Imagine you are walking down a scenic garden path. Sun on your hair (which looks fabulous darling!), feeling good about life, when a tiny Jack Russell terrier bolts out of the bushes and starts nipping on your heels. At first it's annoying and you shoo the little dude away. You continue down the path, a little distracted, not as happy as before, but still, life is pretty darn awesome. You turn a corner and out pops the Jack Russell who starts nipping at your heels. You shoo him again, but this time, he doesn't leave. You start to walk faster, but he just keeps dogging (pun intended) your every step. That little dog is distracting you, annoying you, and as you harbor thoughts of punching that dog right in the snout, making you feel like the worst person in the world. Pretty soon, this glorious walk is not so glorious anymore. In fact, it downright
It's easy to run from the gigantic temptations in our paths. We recognize the beast for what he is-it's clear and easily identifiable. The problem for me, and I suspect you, is that it's the little things that trip us up.
- Believing the lies and half truths "You can't do anything right" "You don't deserve God's love" "You are lame."
- Consolation found in the bottom of a
bag of candy cornbottle, in food, from others; rather than in the Word or in Prayer. - Engaging in a little "harmless" gossip
- Skipping quiet time with God because we are too "busy"
Needless to say, all these "little things" can lead to bigger problems later. Imagine how much better it would have been if rather than "shooing" the Jack Russell away, you immediately pulled out your Rottweiler and told Mr. Rottweiler to "get 'em!" That Jack Russell would have been tearing off so fast, he would have left half his hair on the ground.
God and His Word is my Rottweiler. Because He lives in me, I have access to him 24/7. The error in my thinking is that I honestly believe I am walking down any path-be it sunny or stormy-alone.
So, watch out for the nippers and the beasties....it's dangerous out there!
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Ephesians 6:12
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