Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Have you ever...?

Have you ever done something and then realized, hmm I wonder if that's how God treats me? I have those moments quite often. I have noticed the love of God more and more as I take this journey through PARENTHOOD! When I look at my children or other children in my life (nieces, nephews, cousins, kids I mentor, etc), I see a person that God has placed in my life. As an adult, I have set guidelines, boundaries, and laid out rules for them to follow. But we all know that many of them will be broken. So, at times when those guidelines and rules have been set, punishments have been listed right behind them. Many times, we as parents have said them all in one breathe, "if those dishes aren't done by the time I get home, I promise there will be some consequences and repercussions". God has done the same with us. God has said what we should and should not do and has also told us what would happen when we disobey Him, but has that stopped us from sinning all together? Not at all. I was reminded this past Sunday of reconciliation. As the preacher was preaching I had to step out and change my nephew's diaper. I went to the nursery and one of my other nephews was in there. He saw me and we greeted each other with a hug and kiss (he loves his auntie baby....our nicknames for each other). Well as I was leaving the nursery I noticed him starting to disobey the rules and being disobedient towards one of the staff members. I intervened and spoke with him. My first words were, "Do you want me to get you?" He immediately shook his head no. As I saw his little face turn down, I felt my heart melt because I had to discipline him. I then looked at him in his little eyes that I adore so much and told him that I loved him and if he knew that. He said yes. As I walked out the nursery with the other nephew in tow, I thought 'hmm, I wonder if that's how God treats us'. How many times have we done something that we KNEW that we wasn't suppose to be doing and that voice chimes in saying 'you know better than that'. I know that God is compassionate and gives us so much grace that we don't deserve but at that moment, I realized how many times God could've "got me" but yet he didn't. I also realized how God has made a way for me to reconcile our relationship regardless of what I have done. He still loves me. Now there have been times that I have been punished by God and I am going through some of it now but I understand why. Disobedience, sin, comes with consequences. Now there are different levels but they are most definitely there. Through this journey of parenthood I have come to understand the love that God has for us more and more. I don't want my children to fail in life, bump their heads, or anything but I know that it's going to happen and when it does, they will know that I am right there, STILL LOVING THEM.
I thank God for salvation and allowing reconciliation. I thank God for using parenting as a way of reminding me of the Love that He has.

5 comments:

  1. This is an awesome reminder of just how GREAT the love of God is. I am reminded of this everytime I discipline my children. I say, "DeLano, you need to be obedient..." and then I think "OUCH!!!" How can I instruct my children to be obedient to their parents and hold them accountable when I am not obedient to my Heavenly Father and dislike when others try to hold me accountable.

    Thank you for the transparency and reminder that God is gracious and his love is unconditional.

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  2. He probably did, but I love him anyway!!!

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  3. I thank God for the ministry of reconciliation, and the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ! When we fall short of the glory of God, we have the privilege of going boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help, in time of need! Thanks be to God, through Christ Jesus, Our High Priest.

    Below, you'll find a link from a blog, from WordPress.com. I hope you will glean much from it.

    http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/discipline-positive-discipline-attracts-positive-results/

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