As I was having my quiet time this morning, I was reading through a devotional that a dear friend had given me as a gift. It takes different Scriptures and compiles them together to make one devotional each day that centers around a particular topic. Todays was entitled, "Through Love Serve One Another." As I read through it and meditated on it, I was brought to my knees, and hit over the head with a two-by-four. The first verse is Galatians 6:1, which says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Another way to say this would be: if a man is overtaken by any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. This is the verse that God used to really speak to me this morning.
I have been praying that God would help me become a better parent and mother. That He would give me greater patience for my children, especially when they disobey. One of our children are going through a phase right now that has been a bit difficult, and I have not always responded with grace and gentleness that I should. I have read this verse many times before, but for some reason I never thought about it in light of parenting. God's Word is applicable to every area of our lives, and for some reason I seem to tend to compartmentalize it at times. This just really hit my heart hard this morning. If I am going to make an impact on my childrens' hearts, then I must be meek and gentle with them when I correct them. If I am impatient or frustrated and respond in that vein, that will never make the impact that I so desperately want to make on their hearts for the Lord, or the impact that He intends for me to have. James 1:20 reminds us that "the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
The devotional went on to share other verses that continued to speak to me…
"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the err of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20
The goal of disciplining, teaching, and training our children is so that they might grow in the Lord. When we gently correct them and teach them we can help them work, with the Lord's help, to overcome the sins that they struggle with. We are to work with our children to help them in their daily walk with the Lord, just like we would seek to help another brother or sister; to come along side them and walk with them, helping them along the way.
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" 1 Peter 1:22
"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves." Romans 15:1
When I correct our children, I need to have an unfeigned love for them, truly seeking their spiritual best, rather than seeking simply to have obedient children to benefit myself. A truly peace-filled home will come only when I submit myself to the Lord and seek to teach and train our children His way. Allowing myself to respond in my flesh will never work. It will never save time, and it will never benefit.
My goal is to memorize Galatians 6:1-2 as a verse to help me remember to do things God's way instead of following my flesh when I am dealing with our chilren; to help me remember that they are my brother and sister-in-Christ, and that my job as a parent, and as their sister-in-Christ is to, with God's help, gently restore them, and to show them the same great love and patience that the Lord has shown me.