January
15, 2012
So
I’ve started a new training session with my children this week. It is my hope that someday my children will
sit still and quiet during family devotions with the ultimate goal of being
able to sit through church services. My
five year old has no problem doing this.
He spends hours a day in Bible study with either me (as part of his
daily lessons) or with his Daddy (as part of nightly man time). He attends Sunday School and worship services
with us. Our two and one year old are
another matter. So each day we practice
‘sitting like a black belt’ (our son is taking Tae Kwon Do and his sisters like
to emulate him). Each day we try to
better the time from the day before. We
are not in competition with each other; we are in competition with
ourselves. Each day they better their
time they get a treat. The exercise
serves several purposes. It teaches the
children self-control, discipline and focus.
The
problem comes from our one year old. She
does not like to sit. I will gently pick
her up, bring her back, sit her down, and remind her we’re sitting like black
belts. She’ll sit for another 30 seconds
then she’s off and running. This happens
2-3 times before the tantrum starts. I
try to sit her on my lap and hold her but that is when the full-body fit,
accompanied by screaming started. I had
a flash back to a couple of weeks before when she was throwing the same fit
while in her father’s arms. The thought occurred
to me both times how we were not punishing her; we were not trying to do her
harm; we simply wanted to console her in the first instance and have her rest
quietly in the second instance. I was
shocked and amazed at how violently she reacted to the loving embrace of her
Mommy and Daddy. Then I thought how like
her we are toward our Father.
How
often do we throw tantrums, have full-body fits, and scream when all our Father
wants us to do is rest quietly in His arms so He can give us comfort?
In
due course she would have been released from our embrace to once again go about
her business. Had she sat quietly when
asked the exercise would have been over in five minutes. Instead it lasted oh so much longer for her.
In
due course we would be released from our Father’s embrace to once again go
about our business. How much longer does
He hold us because we will not rest?
“Rest in the Lord, and
wait patiently for Him…” –Psalm 37:7
I had a baby who was so strong-willed that when I brought him home from the hospital, he did not want to be burped, and he arched his back and was stronger than I was. It took 2 and a half years of constant training that he was not in charge. Now he brings rest to my soul. So don't grow weary. Sometimes the toddler years can be exhausting.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, sometimes we ourselves are like this with our Heavenly Father, who only wants what's best for us, but we kick against it because we want our own way. We do this without thinking.