My son and I did not part on great terms this morning. You know the scenario: he couldn’t find his socks, thus was late leaving the house despite my countdown warnings, became really angry, shouted at me, and then refused to run when I said we would miss the school bus!
I commented to my neighbour who saw some of this, “Wouldn’t it be great if we had perfect children?” Her wonderful response was that it would be rather boring! “A kind of boring I could live with,” I thought!!
But then I considered how it is with God and us. It would have been so easy for Him to create us as beings who were totally submissive and obedient – almost like robots – and I thought that actually I was glad to have free will. However, if on occasions my kids annoy me, how often must I be utterly maddening to God?
Lately it’s been fascinating to watch another of my sons who seems to have suddenly grown up a lot. I’ve been amazed at his confidence, his humour and his general maturity in a variety of different situations. I’ve been even more proud when other people have given me positive feedback! Of course, I raise my eyes in desperation when a minute later he’s mean to his brothers or is very immature in other ways. What happened to my little boy?! But it’s good to know that all those years of loving guidance and discipline are (sometimes) beginning to pay off.
I wonder how often God watches me with a warm and proud heart? Over the years how much progress have I made as He has nurtured me? Do I still get angry in the way I used to when someone rubs me up the wrong way? Am I as self-centred as I was? Do I talk more easily and freely and from a well of greater depth about my faith and friendship with God?
A good, strong, positive relationship is one of the most important and meaningful things that we can offer to our kids and, as they mature, they can offer back to us. Of course, God doesn’t sin in how He relates to us, so that puts the responsibility of cultivating a good relationship with Him squarely on us (hopefully with the help of some close people around us).
I sometimes talk to God (or the kids) as I go about my day to day life: when driving in the car, clearing up the kitchen or when out for a walk. I’d like to do it more! However, I also need to make sure I don’t miss out on that ‘special time’ reading with the Lord or just talking to Him in a more intense way. It can be hard both to have those ongoing snatched moments with the Lord and to pursue those quality times of ‘digging in deeper’. Isn’t it wonderful when your kids sit on your knee or beside you, snuggle up and you talk or read stories together? Isn’t it incredible when someone you love says ‘I love you!’?
Ponder
As you look back on the last 12 months, how would you say you have matured spiritually? Where specifically do you think God is lovingly challenging you to mature right now?
