Fruit Inspection

I added 2 more books to my “currently reading” list this afternoon. Jeremy thinks I’m crazy to be reading so many books at one time. I tried to get him to understand I have a system, but he just rolls his eyes! One book on my nightstand, Raising Your Child to Love God, I read when I get to bed early (that’s been on the list the longest, because #1. I don’t get to bed early very often and #2. if I do get to bed early I am probably really tired and reading just exaggerates that so I fall asleep before I get too far along!).

Another book I’m reading is Praying God’s Word and I’m using it more as a reference in my quiet times. It’s a great resource for breaking those pesky strongholds so I’m really trying to go through it slowly and digest it throughout the day.

That one in particular will probably take a back seat for the summer to one that I just added today: The Purpose Driven Life. Originally I started this book a few years ago when it first came out and was very popular. I never made it through the first section, so when a friend of mine asked if I wanted to do it as a small group study I jumped at the chance to try it again. Funny how accountable I’ll stay to other people, opposed to just myself.

And finally, my edition of Creative Correction arrived on Friday afternoon and I haven’t put it down since. It will be a quick read, but man is it packed with GREAT, and I mean GREAT parenting tips on how to discipline my kids in a Biblical way. And I’m not talking about the whole “spare the rod spoil the child” debate which sparks an issue on spanking. The book is written for Christians who already believe that children need discipline, but explains how important it is for parents to not just focus on the negative behavior. We need to pay attention to the heart of the child and instill in them a love of obedience. Not for us, but for God.

I had an “ahh-haa” moment when I read in the first chapter that discipline should not be about us, but about what God has commanded. When I correct my kids, it shouldn’t be because they are annoying me, but rather because they are disobedient to God’s word. I had such an example just yesterday while I was trying to finish up a page in my scrapbook. Jeremy was in the other room watching TV. The kids were in the playroom and fighting over everything! I was irritated with them for not sharing and I was irritated with their Dad for not seeing that what I was doing was WAY MORE important than what he was doing and why didn’t he go handle the situation???? Grrrr…

So I went into the playroom and fussed at them for not getting along (twice) and told them “if I have to come in here ONE MORE TIME you will both get a spanking”. Yeah, like that helped. So on my next trip in there I dished out a couple of swats on their bottoms and then went back to my scrapbooks. The words from the book were going through my head. What did I really just accomplish? Compliance? Is that the goal here? No.

Were they wrong? Yes. But I didn’t portray that message to them. I disciplined them because I was being bothered by their interruptions. Once that was made clear to me I went back in there and talked to them about sharing. I spent some time with them playing and working puzzles. We put in a movie and sang “Veggie Tales” songs. Then I came back and finished up my pictures.

I picked the book up again today after church and got through chapter 4. I would say it’s amazing to me how this book, plus the Purpose Drive Life, plus the past 2 sermons we’ve heard on Sunday mornings have all tied together, but it’s really not that amazing. It’s just how God works when He wants to get our attention. Today our pastor and chapter 3 talked about why children makes the choices that they do. And let me tell you, we talk A LOT about choices in this house! This was right up my alley!!!

Our pastor said “Godly identity occurs when a child makes choices based on the Word, the Will, and the Way’s of God”. To me, the book reiterated that by saying, “The goal is for our kids to make obedient choices because they know it’s the right thing to do, because it pleases God-not because they want to avoid correction”.

Well, that was a lot to say, and I didn’t intend on writing that much but it just kept flowing onto the paper. I wish I could spend the rest of today reading my new book but it will have to wait until later…maybe tonight. Right now I hear Emery on the monitor just waking from his nap and reading his books to himself. Any minute now I’ll hear, “Mommmmmy? Are you Mommy?” (His version of “where are you Mommy?”)

Lord, I am so thankful that you are speaking to me about my children and showing me how to raise them according to your Ways. Training them to have a heart for You and giving them a love of obedience and discipline. I understand that it is not easy but I am up for the task. Thank you for your unending mercy where I have failed and thank you for giving me the strength to persevere. Amen.