Tag Archives: Christian parenting

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Surprise!

I was sitting next to our daughter in her Sunday School class yesterday and I heard author Phillip Yancy say something on the video tape we were viewing that made me say “YES!”

Isn’t that exciting? Here I am, almost 61 years old (next month) 54 of those years as a Christian, and I am still learning from the treasure of God’s wisdom. That is one reason I still attend Church (Phil would be quick to remind us that the Church is the people – not the building). I fellowship with other Christians, attend Sunday School, and a Home Group all because I have learned “lo these many years” that God speaks to me through my fellow Christians.

Back to the “Yes!”…. Phillip Yancy was talking about the various ways God answers prayer. Now, “lo these many years” I have heard much about prayer. Many of you have as well. God’s ways are not our ways, His time table is not our time table, and most importantly, He is God.

What blessed me was a question Yancy asked, “Have you ever been surprised by an answer to prayer because it was answered in a way you never would have imagined, much less requested?”

“YES!”

In reflecting on my response, I realized that the surprise factor is part of what makes walking with God a meaningful journey. If I knew what was ahead, there would certainly be more potential for me to mess things up. I would try to avoid the very circumstances that have brought me some of my greatest joy. I would never have chosen to have four children in three and one half years. But, I shudder to think of what I would have missed!!!!

Our children have brought us much joy (and challenge) through every phase of their lives. Believe me, I clearly remember waking up and changing diapers on three little bottoms, feeding three breakfasts and breastfeeding the fourth, dressing or assisting in dressing all four. Then I would look at the clock to see how long it was until nap time. Not because I wanted my four little ones to nap – but because I wanted to nap! God was faithful through every phase of our children’s lives and continues to be. Yes! God has surprised me!

My relationship with God is vital and challenging because even as I face difficulties, I know God will be faithful to work on my behalf, even if I don’t know how He will accomplish His purpose.

Isaiah 55:8-1 (NIV)

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God is faithful – I want to continue to be surprised by Him.

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Hard of Hearing

Okay, at my next physical exam I will have my hearing tested. I’ll be 61 next month, which is NOT old, but it certainly is older than 30. I don’t want to be like two very wonderful and Godly men I have known that couldn’t hear well, but did not want to do anything about it. I am sure they had their reasons, but at the same time they were missing out on hearing some lovely aspects of our world. Whenever possible I want to wake to hear the birds singing, or tune into the highest and lowest notes of a choral rendition. This is especially true if it is my grandchildren are singing!

I find myself turning the volume up on the radio and yet the music students listen to is WAY too loud for me. (a certain sign that you are old – adolescents’ music is too loud! I remember my parents saying that about Peter, Paul, and Mary).  Paradoxically, I will hear comments and words my high school students say and when I call them to account, their common response is – “I didn’t think you could hear me.” So, my hearing is not totally deficient – yet.

God uses the term “hearing” to describe the ability of His children to understand what He wants to communicate with us.

Matthew 13:14-16

14 In them (meaning those who are hard of hearing)  is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”  16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Jesus is talking to His disciples about the need for spiritual eyes, ears, and hearts that are open to Jesus’ teaching. Just as our ears can become “hard of hearing” physically, our spiritual ears can become “hard of hearing” in regards to what our Heavenly Father wants to say to us. Our children often display “selective hearing” in response to our direction or correction in their lives – so do we.

To be honest, I sometimes practice “selective hearing” with my Heavenly Father. When I hear Him say something I feel positive about – I am quick to obey. If I am less pleased with His direction, I may be slow to respond – maybe even act as though I didn’t hear anything to start with.

Our children do this as well. When we encourage them to listen and obey quickly, we are preparing them to listen to and respond to their Heavenly Father. I  want to be a mother, friend, and grandmother who has excellent hearing spiritually. Then I can be an example to those I love, and, like verse 16 says –  be blessed by my Heavenly Father.

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Servant Leaders

Helping Nana

I am so pleased when one of my students cleans up without being asked. It warms my heart when a student helps another student just because assistance is needed. High school students often get a “bad rap” for being selfish and self-centered. Yet I am often blessed to see another side – a side that would shock their parents in a good way.

What cultivates a servant’s heart? Why do some young people notice when help is needed – and then respond? There may be various reasons, yet I know of two qualities that fertilize seeds of service.

First – positive examples. When children see adults serve others, it demonstrates a living example of a servant. If parents and grandparents are the ones who help carry groceries in from the car, clean up after meals, offer to sweep the porch, or rake the leaves – children will see this and follow the example. It is a wonderful opportunity to include older children in work days for the church or elderly neighbors. Working alongside your child or grandchild allows fellowship as well as the fulfillment of serving together.

Second – providing opportunities for service. The earlier children learn to serve others, the sooner it allows serving to become a pattern of behavior. It is often easier and less stressful to do a chore ourselves. Yet, when we need help, our children and grandchildren may not know what to do or how to follow through in a helpful way. Depending on the age of a child, giving them responsibility for small tasks develops their confidence and their ability to follow through. Early acts of service may include:

  • wiping off the table
  • putting forks and spoons at each place for a meal
  • folding wash cloths or hand towels
  • sweeping the deck or sidewalk
  • matching socks
  • raking leaves, picking up sticks (stick patrol)

Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant.

Let Christ be your example of humility – Philippians 2:5-11

5-11 Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. And, having become man, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death he died was the death of a common criminal. That is why God has now lifted him so high, and has given him the name beyond all names, so that at the name of Jesus “every knee shall bow”, whether in Heaven or earth or under the earth. And that is why, in the end, “every tongue shall confess” that Jesus Christ” is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus also said –

Mark 9:35-40 (NLT)

35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our elected officials would take this attitude?

May we be examples of servant leaders to the precious children in our lives.