Parenting kids … tough stuff. And just think of doing that same job from God’s point of view. He’s responsible for the same … guiding you and me to become good adults. Not a job that you would hear me volunteering to do in a trillion lightyears.
Just imagine. God: “Jimbo, go to work everyday and do your job well, then go straight home to be with your family when you’re done. So you can be the husband and father they need.”
Jimbo: “Huh, not happening, God. I enjoy goin’ out drinkin’ with the guys too much. I need some time to unwind.”
And now God has to work at teaching and training Jimbo to see life the way God wants him to see it. And believe me, He will not accept Jimbo’s excuses and reasons for living life any old way that he wants. Why? Because God simply never gives up on us.
Me in God’s shoes? I’d tell Jimbo to get it right. One time.
Oh, I guess I might give him another opportunity to change his ways. Maybe a warning shot across the bow. But if Jimbo still made no attempt to learn to be a good family man, then my next shot wouldn’t be a warning. It would likely be dead center in the middle of his pleasure-seeking little boat and would turn his world upside down, with water rapidly filling and turning it into a watery grave.
But not God. The Bible says He is a patient Father. He tells us what He wants for us. Then He tries again. And again. Until finally, He sighs and does what He has to do to get our attention. And it’s up to us to determine just how far He has to go.
Heaven help those who rebelliously thumb their noses at Him, and keep going their merry way. Because God is known for using circumstances to get our attention. Things can go from good – to not so good – to bad – to “Somebody please help me, I’m drowning in my problems.”
I repeat, because God simply never gives up on us. But back to parenting our kids. In a microcosm, we’re supposed to be handling our job just like God is with you and me. Loving, giving, teaching, training, disciplining and even punishing to the necessary extent when nothing else seems to work. But never – and I mean never giving up.
We parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles can’t afford the luxury of simply walking away from a hellion stuck in rebellion. That adult-to-be should be seen as too valuable to just hand his life over to a world intent on destroying everyone in its path.
We need to employ everything at our disposal in trying to make a difference in our kids and their future. Prayers … pleading … discussion … counseling … explanations … lockdowns … ball bats … you name it, we need to try it.
My point is simple. Be like Almighty God. Never give up. Try everything. Throw it all against the wall and see if anything will stick. Our kids are worth it.
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