Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Luke 16:10, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
There’s nothing quite like the moment when your child lets you know that you have done a poor job of parenting. And I’m not sure if it’s worse when they do it overtly through a direct statement about your shortcomings, or when their words or actions simply illuminate the fact that what you had been trying to instill was unfortunately still not in them. My most recent dose of this reality came when I had to inform one of our kids of their impending doom if they chose to disregard again one of the house rules I had established. Their response was to ask me why I had to make such a big deal out of things that weren’t bad. Granted, the rule was fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. It wasn’t like they were sneaking out at night or were into something illegal. But the rule was clear, and it needed to be followed. And that is essentially what I explained, reminding them that if they would honor and respect their parents regardless, then trivial things would not escalate into disputes, and more and more freedom would be granted. And that’s what we’re looking for as parents, no? For a heart that longs to do what is good and honoring for that very sake, and out of love, and not one that begrudgingly follows rules or sits back in judgment of whether certain boundaries are worth respecting. In my case, I have fallen short in my attempts to get my message completely across. Some of the problem lies within my child, and some lies within me, to be sure.
And as I contrast my situation with the task that God has of raising me to be the child He wants me to be, I see myself reluctantly following His rules and choosing which lines are intended for me and which ones are not. You would think that having lived half a century would make me immune to such arrogance, but not so. But what is so is the examples I set are not as aligned with the message I preach as I might hope they would be. My child does not pull their dismissive spirit out of thin air. It comes from their sinful heart and is fed by my hypocrisy. If this recipe sounds familiar, then join me at the throne of grace as we ask God for help and forgiveness.
As we seek Him today, let one of your lessons intended for others find its way to your own heart. Beg God to help you love Him completely.
Have an enjoyable Tuesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
