Light in the Night

One super-early Sunday morning I felt like God was calling me out of bed.  The previous Friday and Saturday mornings He called me but I didn’t go!!  (Shame, Laura.)  I reasoned my way “out” of it.  But on Sunday morning around 4 a.m. I finally obeyed. (Hallelujah!) All I heard was God saying, 

“Trust Me.  I’ll show you.”  And as a true disobedient child I replied, “But it’s dark and if I make noise or put a light on it will surely wake someone (Jordan) and I’ll have company this early…” 

“Trust Me” was all I kept hearing.  So I plodded forward through my house and into the kids room where the light was dimly on.  “But I’m going to hurt my eyes in this light” was what I told the Light of the world.  God continued to say, “Trust Me.”  So I turned into the room and He turned me right toward the night light.  I was so awed at God!  The night light was bright enough for my little tender eyes to see the Word I was about to be shown. 

James 1:2-4 was where I began but then He nudged me to read on to verses five and six.  Oh, how blessed I felt!    Even though I had been a tough cookie in all my disobedience, He continued to have great compassion on me.  His perseverance in love just overwhelmed me.  His confidence in what He had planned for me was remarkable – this is our God.

Lately I’ve been reading through 1 & 2 Chronicles and specifically about the wisdom God gave Solomon to lead His people, Israel.  And here in James 1:5-6 He shows that His wisdom is available to us, for the asking!  Just ask in faith, without doubting and He is faithful to supply. 

As we desire to lead our children in this world, let us do it with His wisdom.  

One Size doesn't Fit All...

        I was a relatively easy child to raise.  I remember wanting to please my parents.  I hated when I had disappointed them and can only remember a few occasions choosing to blatantly be disobedient.

         However I remember my most horrific school experience with so many emotions. The situation is best recreated through the words of my first grade teacher, Mrs. Gregory.

October 12, 1970

Dear Mrs. Bryant,

Joan was reported for turning a flip in the girls toilet today.  I thought

You’d like to know so that you could reemphasize to her the

Danger involved here.

I have talked to her and I do not think she will ever

Do such a thing again; but I shall appreciate

Your talking with her too.

Thank you,

Mrs. Gregory

(please sign and return. Just so that I can tell that you received this.)

P. S. I did not “keep her in” for this.  I told the class

That her mother would talk to to her instead.

         As mentioned earlier, my personality caused me HUGE remorse for this awful blunder.  As I presented this hand written index card to my mother, I was shocked at her response.  She began to laugh uncontrollably.  As I sobbed and mourned my life already imagining my life behind bars, I couldn’t process my mom’s absolute hysterics over my error.

         Moms, my Mom knows me best.  She knew there was not evil intent in my attempt to do a cartwheel. Yes, I had broken a rule, but it certainly wasn’t worth calling in the squadron on her barely seven year old darling.  

         My mom didn’t return the index card (which obviously I am blessed to still possess.)  Rather she wrote a letter to Mrs. Gregory saying she had received it and had dealt with me appropriately.  She actually sent this little keepsake to her aunt (next week I will give you her response.)

         Moms we need to be a student of each of our children. We need to know what correction best suits the offense.  This means each child may receive a different correction or consequence for the choices they make.  There isn't a single response for every offense.  God wants to reveal how to parent each of our children.  We can call on Him and He will show us how to appropriately correct and encourage our children.

II Samuel 24: 14  “David said to Gad, “ I am in deep distress.  Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”