Prov.22:6

This morning my little ones are out of school for a teachers work day. It started off rough but then God's grace took over. Gabriel was outside playing with one of our neighbor boys in our front yard when all of a sudden there comes a loud banging on my door. I open the door to hear the neighbor boy yelling at Gabriel "Shut up, I don't have to share, I can talk how I want to, etc...) Before I could say anything Gabriel asks the young boy "Do you know Jesus? Do you go to church? You need to know Jesus because he wants you to be kind, share and talk right. Mommy, he doesn't know Jesus???" Then he closed the door and they continued to play and talk about Jesus.
I often think I am raising my children the best way I can why aren't they doing what is right and pleasing to the Lord? I have been reading the book "Don't make me count to three" and I have been praying for the Lord to work through me so that I may be a disciple to my children that I may be able to train them in the way that they should go. With our oldest being 11 years old now I am reminded daily that he is turning into a young man and that he needs to know the Lords ways not the ways of a worldy Mom and Dad. We need for him to be a model of God because it is the will of God not because we are afraid of him embarrasing us. How many of us are in a store and our little ones see that awesome toy that they just have to have or for Lilly it is gum and they are making a scene in the store over it. Is our mind frame on I don't want my child to embarass me or is it on teaching them that when we say no it is no and to expect obediance from them. Are we excusing their behavior with their tired or are we following through as the Lord expects us as parents to do? I have been using the scripture lately "Let your no, be no and your yes, be yes". I am more easily manipulated by our children than Brian is and after reading this passage this past week I have been steadfast in the word. Do you know that in just one week with me being steadfast on my no's our children aren't pushing me as much? To think of all of the headaches I could have saved myself from over these past 11 years... If I would have just stuck by the word of God and not let my emotions get caught up in rasing our children.
I came across some information this morning while I was searching on google that convicted me. We don't raise children, we raise chickens. We are to train or disciple our children. For those of us who have seriously committed to train our children, we are beginning to apprehend the promise that they will not depart from it.
I am off to play games with my little ones outside on this gloriuosly cool day that the Lord has blessed us with.