As this month is getting underway, so are my parenting skills coming into play. I got a call one day from school about my son and a poor choice he had made. It was something new and something he had never done before. I was not happy to get the call. I knew he was not going to be happy when he faced me at home. Thankfully, we both had time to process, so when the time came to discuss it, we were both pretty calm. As moms sometimes do, we phone a friend to process our parenting woes. This mom had been dealing with her own parenting stressors that week. As I mentioned last week, wisdom propels us, and now I want to add another layer that wisdom compels us, for my friend text me a little later with this beautiful thought:
God said to me tonight …“I care enough for my little children that I allowed them to get caught.” He chastens those He loves and our Christian walk is a learning journey, not one of shame. ❤️❤️
Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. -Proverbs 3:12 NIV
Let’s see what The Passion has to say:
For the Father’s discipline comes only from his passionate love and pleasure for you. Even when it seems like his correction is harsh, it’s still better than any father on earth gives to his child.
-Proverbs 3:12 TPT
Isn’t the Lord good, y’all!!!!
My son’s choice had a sequence of consequences. First, he had to talk to the principal. Then, his coach took action by pulling him from the game that day. And then, there was me also pulling things from him for many days, if not months.
There are moments in our lives where we get to refine our character, and isn’t the Father so good to remind us He chastens those that He loves? As followers of Christ, we are never above reproach. We are still His beloved children. Do we make mistakes? Yes. Do we disappoint others, and especially ourselves at times? Yes. I had to tell my son guilt is the reminder that this is not the way. Healthy guilt or remorse is part of our internal barometer back to righteousness. We need conviction to keep us walking forward with peace in our heart. You see, to me it’s not just about disappointing people, but more importantly the loss of connection with our Heavenly Father. Sin breaks connection.
If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it. -Genesis 4:7 AMP
This verse came to mind when talking with my son. Thoughts come, but it’s what you do with them that changes the course of our day.
Intrusive thoughts—we must learn to discern….who said that? When the accuser comes with a suggestive thought to try something when nobody is looking, it never works out. In doing something that you kind of feel is not great, it usually never turns out great, at least in my experience. We are called to hold a higher standard not just because we are Christians, but because we love to honor the King with righteous living.
Making decisions with the Father in mind is heavenly alignment. It’s a slower more intentional way, but when you can say you thought it through and prayed to the Father too before you made that decision, usually you feel a deep internal peace. This has been one of my best tools when discerning which way to choose.
I’m going to end with a little video paying homage to one of my husband’s favorite lines said by one of his favorite actors.
https://youtu.be/aoHxegX1lzI?si=eLupg22TkbvVAbYg
Welp, this one came out of nowhere into my somewhere. Stay tuned next week for more practical talk from this widow on her walk. 😉
For everything is going to be alright, alright, alright.
Until next time,
Keep gliding 🪁
Abiding 🙇🏼♀️
& Smiling 😁