Handle With Care

Sometimes we see on packages the instructions “Handle with Care” or “Fragile” written on them.  It’s important to pay attention to instructions when we come across them.  If we didn’t follow those particular instructions, we could break something very valuable.  That happened to us one time.  Some relatives from back East shipped us a beautiful, antique engraved crystal vase.  It was a family heirloom that was a wedding gift to a relative 150 years ago.  It came with an antique photo of the woman with the vase.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t handled with care, which ended in its destruction.

God had some important instructions for us to follow too.  In the Old Testament He told the Israelites in Exodus 20:12 –

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

Then Jesus thought it was important enough to repeat in Luke 18:20 –

“You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

In other words, nothing has changed, God expects us to still honor our parents.  To honor means 1) To hold in respect; esteem, or 2) To show respect for, or 3) To confer distinction on.  God knows that we sometimes won’t agree with our parents.  God knows that we won’t necessarily have the same lifestyles or likes as our parents.  Yet, God still expects and commands us to honor them.  After all God placed them in our lives.  He made them our authority.  Even when we don’t agree with our parents, this gives us a chance to apply biblical principles as we develop our relationship with our parents.  It is also a means to show God’s love to them, even when we disagree.

If we don’t follow God’s instructions about our parents then we may end up with a relationship that is like that “Handle with Care” packaged vase that arrived in a million pieces.  Take time to show your appreciation to your mom, no matter what your history with her is.  Take time to honor and love her as God expects you to do.  Bless your mom with your love.

It Wasn’t A Waste of Time After All!

How many times have you done something over and over again thinking, “I just did this same thing the other day.  Why is it like this again?”  Maybe you dusted your furniture and within a day it is completely dusty again.  Maybe you just finished mopping your floor and not 10 minutes later some dog or kid comes running through leaving tracks.  Maybe you finished that pile of paperwork that was on your desk at work and within a few days a whole new pile of paperwork to do is back on your desk.  It really makes you think, “Now wasn’t that a waste of time!”  Sometimes even when we are raising our children we teach them the same things over and over again.  “Don’t touch that hot stove!”  “Do your homework, so you will learn what you need to know to have a job when you grow up!”  “Clean your room!”  Especially as our kids become teenagers we really begin to wonder if they are even listening.  By the time they are ready to move out you wonder if it wasn’t all a big waste of time giving them instruction after instruction, piece of advice after piece of advice.  Even when the kids were at church they would sometimes seem to drift or not be listening to the Sunday School teacher or the Preacher.  At home you would read them the Bible Stories or teach them little moral lessons out of the Bible and yet they would still seem to test the waters or challenge what you believed. 

Thankfully, the majority of the time, when we raise our kids with good sound Biblical doctrine, Christian morals and Biblical concepts they will come back to the spiritual foundations we have laid.  Read Proverbs 22:6:

Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

We did what we were supposed to.  We made the efforts.  We taught the scriptures.  We took them to church.  We encouraged them in their faith.  However, as they turn in to adults we can control them.  We have to accept that they will make their own decisions.  It is an encouragement to know from this Bible verse that once we have done our part it won’t be a waste of time after all.  Most youth will return to what we have taught them.  We just need to pray and be patient.  We need to be there for them when they need some spiritual wisdom.  Never stop being their loving and supportive parent.

The Best Investment We Can Make

People good with their money will usually take some of their money and invest it in safe investments to earn some interest on their money.  They may buy land or stocks.  Of course as many of us have seen over the last few years some of the things we thought were safe and sound investments have turned in to major losses.  There is something else we can invest in that is even more important.  As good parents we should be investing in our children emotionally, physically and spiritually.  We should be spending time with them physically.  We should be encouraging them emotionally and teaching them spiritually.  The Bible takes this investing a step further.  Read Proverbs 13:22:

A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

All of us love our kids, even when they drive us nuts.  So why not after we have spent years investing in them to help them have a good life as they grow up shouldn’t we be leaving them an inheritance to remember us by and help them out in the future when we are gone?  It just makes good common sense that when you love someone that you would want to help them in any way you can.  It’s interesting to note that this scripture makes the point leaving an inheritance helps to define us as a good parent or grandparent.  This inheritance can be in a variety of forms.  Maybe it is the obvious, money.  Maybe it is some land.  Maybe it is some prized possession or family heirlooms.  Maybe it is book that you have written full of the wisdom you learned living your life.  Maybe it is family history outline and photographs.  Even these sentimental things are a wonderful inheritance.  Not everyone has money that they can leave behind.  Things happen in life to destroy excess money.  However, we can leave something special to our children and grandchildren that will either help them in life physically, emotionally or spiritually.  The important thing is that they see through this inheritance gift your love and a reminder of what you were to them in their lives.  So start now thinking about how you can invest in your children and grandchildren after you are gone with an inheritance you have left for them.

The Wisdom of Discipline

Raising up children can be a difficult thing.  I remember as a kid I said that I would never do some of the things my parents did.  Well, I did end up doing some of the things my parents did.  It isn’t until you have children of your own that you see why your parents did the things they do.  The Bible has a lot of great wisdom contained in it for bringing up your children.  The Holy Spirit can also help you raise your children.  Other Christian parents are also a great resource for wisdom on dealing with your children.  In other words, you are not alone.  Both of my children were very different.  We sometimes had to use different approaches when it came to disciplining them.  All children need disciplined at one time or another.  No child is perfect.  Some will test you until you have reached your last straw of control.  Even if you don’t have children yet, or just help baby sit others kids, some good planning and training ahead of time can be of benefit.  For example, knowing what the Bible says will be a good place to start.  Here are three great verses that teach us some wisdom about disciplining children:

Proverbs 13:24 - The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Proverbs 19:18 - Discipline your son while there is hope; don’t be intent on killing him.

Proverbs 22:15 - Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.

Some parents and some parts of society/culture think that children should be allowed lots of choices and freedom.  That they will naturally do what is good for them or learn from their mistakes.  The first thing parents or caretakers for children need to remember is that we are all born with a sinful nature and none of us are ever going to naturally do what is good for us and many of us don’t learn from our mistakes.  The Bible teaches us that if we love our children we will discipline them, just like God disciplines us.  It is out of love that we show them what is right and wrong.  We want to protect them and show them the safer and better way to go.  In the next scripture we see that if we let a child go their own way, we may get so stressed that we get to the point we just want to shake them and wake them up.  I know my teenagers sometimes pushed me to the limit.  Not that I would want to kill them literally.  This verse is really making more the point that when someone keeps going down the wrong path in life it is like you are the one helping them to harm themselves.  It’s like intending to kill them when you don’t help them or getting them going in the direction that is safe.  In the last verse we see the age old concept that young people are fearless and may make foolish decisions based on their lack of experience or wisdom.  Sometimes kind words of wisdom are not enough and they need to be warned much more strongly.  Yes, even the rod of discipline might be needed with some personalities.  For different children that rod may look very different.  It might be grounding, no TV or an actual rod, etc. 

People are afraid to discipline thinking that their child won’t love them, but in reality discipline will keep them safer and they will still love you.  Sometimes we were strong with our kids, but they always knew where we stood and in the end still loved us.  They can look back on things now and understand why we did the things we did.  So use the wisdom of discipline to improve your child’s life and future.

Open Wide

Momma birds and sometimes Papa birds do a great job feeding their babies.  They build a nest to protect the birds while they go out and look for food.  They then bring back the food and feed the babies.  The baby birds don’t have to do a thing.  They just have to let Momma know that they are hungry and she feeds them.  When she is done feeding them they are satisfied.  God is like our Momma bird.  Read Psalm 81: 8 -10.

⁸ Listen, My people, and I will admonish you. Israel, if you would only listen to Me! ⁹ There must not be a strange god among you; you must not bow down to a foreign god. ¹⁰ I am Yahweh your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

The key to being fed until we are full spiritually is to put God first in our lives.  We are to have no other gods ahead of Him.  He may not have brought us out of Egypt like the Israelites, but He did save us and gave us eternal life with Him.  There should be nothing else before Him.  Yet the majority of Christians are not living that way.  They put sports, fun activities, kids, spouses, parents, school, jobs, hobbies, vacations, etc all ahead of Him.  They schedule everything in their lives before they make time for Bible Study, Church, or Service.  Once they have accomplished those things , then they see if they can make it to Sunday Services once that month.  Or maybe they volunteer for a job at church that conveniently fits their schedule and is easy to do.  Many are making gods out of the things in their life.  Many are being left unfed.  Spiritually empty.  That is why we see division in churches, broken homes and marriages inside the church, etc.  We are empty.  We have chosen other gods.  Let’s follow God’s instructions in these verses to stay inside His protecting nest and look to no other but our Momma bird to feed us.  Open wide and let Him fill you!

The Best Investment We Can Make

People good with their money will usually take some of their money and invest it in safe investments to earn some interest on their money.  They may buy land or stocks.  Of course as many of us have seen over the last few years some of the things we thought were safe and sound investments have turned in to major losses.  There is something else we can invest in that is even more important.  As good parents we should be investing in our children emotionally, physically and spiritually.  We should be spending time with them physically.  We should be encouraging them emotionally and teaching them spiritually.  The Bible takes this investing a step further.  Read Proverbs 13:22:

A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

All of us love our kids, even when they drive us nuts.  So why not after we have spent years investing in them to help them have a good life as they grow up shouldn’t we be leaving them an inheritance to remember us by and help them out in the future when we are gone?  It just makes good common sense that when you love someone that you would want to help them in any way you can.  It’s interesting to note that this scripture makes the point leaving an inheritance helps to define us as a good parent or grandparent.  This inheritance can be in a variety of forms.  Maybe it is the obvious, money.  Maybe it is some land.  Maybe it is some prized possession or family heirlooms.  Maybe it is book that you have written full of the wisdom you learned living your life.  Maybe it is family history outline and photographs.  Even these sentimental things are a wonderful inheritance.  Not everyone has money that they can leave behind.  Things happen in life to destroy excess money.  However, we can leave something special to our children and grandchildren that will either help them in life physically, emotionally or spiritually.  The important thing is that they see through this inheritance gift your love and a reminder of what you were to them in their lives.  So start now thinking about how you can invest in your children and grandchildren after you are gone with an inheritance you have left for them.

Instruct Your Children

I am so amazed when I watch TV these days.  I see commercials and public service announcements that contain instructions to parents on how to be parents.  It is almost like the parents of today have never learned how to be a parent.  The movement in society to let kids have more freedom and not to discipline has helped to lead to parents not paying attention to their kids.  There has been far too much concern with damaging the children’s egos or self-esteem levels.  Teaching a child and giving them boundaries or rules can only help them.  Instructing a child will give them wisdom that will protect them throughout life in a multitude of ways.  God makes it clear in multiple places in the Bible that he expects parents to instruct their children and to instruct them in the ways of God.  God also expects children to listen and obey their parents.  Of course, no child will do that naturally, just like we don’t naturally with ease listen to and obey God. So it is up to parents to teach children that they need to listen and obey for their own good.  It won’t be easy.  It will be difficult at times emotionally, but it will be worth it in the end.  The children will grow up wiser and godlier as a result of our efforts as parents.  Here are just two verses that teach us God’s expectations for parents and children.

Ephesians 6:4 – And fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 13:1 – A wise son [hears his] father’s instruction, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

We have to remember as parents that God is with us and will take care of us.  He will provide what we need to be good parents.  He will give us instructions, so that we can instruct our children.  We need to depend on God for strength, knowledge, parental skills and wisdom.  He wants us to succeed at parenting and He will helps us to do just that.  Go ahead, don’t be afraid to be a parent that instructs, leads, guides and disciplines.  It doesn’t make you a bad parent if you say “No”.  If it did then that would make God a bad God, because He tells us “No” when we need to be told “No”.  We all know God is a good God.  So it is ok to say “No” and to instruct our children.  Glorify God with your parenting!

It Couldn’t Hurt to Ask

I grew up with the old idiom “It couldn’t hurt to ask” or “It never hurts to ask”.  You see an object at the store that you would really like to get, but it looks too pricey so you walk away.  Perhaps that was a missed opportunity to apply the old idiom.  I know it has worked in my life a few times.  I asked for something for a reasonable price and it was given to me.  In this economy you might find that it will work more often than you think.  How many times as a kid were you not afraid to ask you parents or grandparents over and over again for that ice cream cone as the ice cream truck passed?  How many times did it work?  I know if I didn’t ask I didn’t chance at all at getting the ice cream.  That same wisdom was passed on to us by God.  Read Matthew 7: 7-8.

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

 We need to ask God questions.  We need to ask God for what we need.  We need ask even if we aren’t sure it is something we should even ask for.  Like a child asking for an ice cream on a hot summer day.  An ice cream really might not be the best thing for the child.  Maybe it’s right before dinner.  Maybe a glass of water would really be healthy for the child and quench their thirst and cool them down.  God also tells us that we need to seek or search and we need to knock at the door.  All of these are active steps on our part.  We need to take time to communicate with God.  Just like I use to look for those Chocolate Chip cookies my mom hid from us kids, I need to look for what God has for me.  I need to seek or search out what He has.  I use to knock on my Mom and Dad’s bedroom door and ask them for things.  We need to knock on God’s door and ask.  If Jesus himself told us to ask, seek and knock, don’t you think it would be the wise thing to do?  After all it couldn’t hurt to ask, what is the worst He is going to do to us for asking?  Out of love He is going to give us the best answer, even if that means “No” or “Wait”.

Handle With Care

Sometimes we see on packages the instructions “Handle with Care” or “Fragile” written on them.  It’s important to pay attention to instructions when we come across them.  If we didn’t follow those particular instructions, we could break something very valuable.  That happened to us one time.  Some relatives from back East shipped us a beautiful, antique engraved crystal vase.  It was a family heirloom that was a wedding gift to a relative 150 years ago.  It came with an antique photo of the woman with the vase.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t handled with care, which ended in its destruction.

God had some important instructions for us to follow too.  In the Old Testament He told the Israelites in Exodus 20:12 –

“Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

Then Jesus thought it was important enough to repeat in Luke 18:20 –

“You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

In other words, nothing has changed, God expects us to still honor our parents.  To honor means 1) To hold in respect; esteem, or 2) To show respect for, or 3) To confer distinction on.  God knows that we sometimes won’t agree with our parents.  God knows that we won’t necessarily have the same lifestyles or likes as our parents.  Yet, God still expects and commands us to honor them.  After all God placed them in our lives.  He made them our authority.  Even when we don’t agree with our parents, this gives us a chance to apply biblical principles as we develop our relationship with our parents.  It is also a means to show God’s love to them, even when we disagree. 

If we don’t follow God’s instructions about our parents then we may end up with a relationship that is like that “Handle with Care” packaged vase that arrived in a million pieces.  Take time to show your appreciation to your mom, no matter what your history with her is.  Take time to honor and love her as God expects you to do.  Bless your mom with your love.