Beyond Common Sense

This spring, Mr. Robin and Mr. Bluebird joined forces to keep Mr. Squirrel out of the tree in my back yard!  It happens to be the tree that contains my bird feeder; however, there must have been a nest up there somewhere as well.  I’ve never seen anything like it  This went on for several days.  That poor squirrel, who was used to feasting on my feeder whenever I wasn’t looking, could not even cross the yard! (Just click on the link and hopefully, you can see the video!)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzgk4pTrgH4&feature=vmdshb

The best advice we ever got as parents was this: you must be desperate for your children.  What does that mean?  Well, these birds went to desperate measures to keep an enemy from killing their young, perhaps robbing the nest of its eggs.  There actions were rewarded, in fact, I haven’t seen that squirrel since!

How desperate are you Christian parent to see your children live for Christ?  Are you willing to take desperate measures to see it happen?  Are you attacking the enemy with such desperation that he flees?

What would this look like?  Here are just a few lessons that I have learned:

1. Change a bad habit in my life.  Early on someone told me that I didn’t have to yell at my children in order to make them behave.  I was a yeller!  You know what – it’s true, and it works.  What bad habit do you see forming in your children because of your example?  (Ouch, sorry!)
2. “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes…” (Ps 101:3)  This little motto has sat on our TV for as long as I can remember.  What you view with or without your children WILL affect them for godliness or worldliness.
3. Covetousness – Cut it out of your life.  One of my favorite scenes from Patch the Pirate is in Friendship Mutiny, when Patch is sword fighting the enemy.  Several items are destroyed and Patch laughingly mocks for Captain Fiendly to be careful with his thrift store items!  Our children will never be satisfied if they grow up in a home with parents whose goal is gain!
4. BE DESPERATE ENOUGH TO SAY “NO!”  Why do we let our children run their lives and ours?  Don’t we know better?  Even if you are not a perfect parent, you are STILL the parent!  You  DO know what is best – don’t let them whittle you down!
5. Be desperate enough to know your God!  I once asked our daughter why she turned out so well.  PK’s are Satan’s target; and sadly, they often follow his ways instead of the ways of their parents.  Her words were humbling.  She said, “Mom, it was real to you and Dad, and we knew it!”  Be real – you can’t fake a relationship with God.  It’s there if you make it happen.  Remember: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”  James 4:8  Why God chooses to draw nigh to us is beyond my understanding, but this is one of the most precious promises in the Bible!

These are just a few suggestions.  Take a look at your parenting – be honest, and get desperate.  You will rejoice for all of eternity, AND throughout this life as well!