It’s amazing how God has this timing thing down. On Sunday I was laying in bed thinking I would skip the 9am church service and only go to the second service and teach Sunday school – missing the message during the service as I would be teaching. Owen and Molly spent the night at their aunt’s and it’s very rare that I’m kid free. I was exhausted and thought I could use the extra rest sleeping in, however, I pulled myself out of bed and got ready. Looking over the materials I was going to be teaching on.
We are wrapping up teaching the kids the fruit of the Spirit. Sunday’s lesson was on self-control and patience. I had to smile as I was reading the materials and KNEW I had to go to the service. I knew I needed to hear the word of God from Pastor Paul and I knew I needed to hear this message at this time in my life.
I was right.
Even when you hear things you’ve heard before sometimes the timing is everything. Sometimes you know enough is enough of whatever it is you’re struggling with.
My recent struggle has been my worth – where I spend my time, am I using my abilities for the right things, do my kids even benefit having me at home, am I good wife. Along with that of course comes some worry – when I know I need to give that stuff up and give it to God.
Insert the Sunday morning message – as I said earlier God knows a thing or two about timing. Even if we don’t like it (or like it) – it’s there.
We’ve been hanging out in the book of Ephesians for awhile as a church body. Sunday’s specifically was from Ephesians 6:1-4.
Right away I wanted to jump into my parenting style, but then Paul opened up with talking about obeying your parents – as an adult. I had to take mental steps back and look at the relationship I have with my parents. Am I opening the door to hear my parents advice, experience, and looking to them? It’s something I made note of. I’ll dig into that deeper at a later time.
Now after making that note for myself it was time to dive into taking notes on how I can be a better parent by hearing this message. Below are a few take-a-ways that I had from the message. Again, like I said – it wasn’t new information, it was the timing for me.
- If we want to have success we must learn to submit. If we are parents we need to help our children understand this. As a parent we better be worth obeying.
- Kids need to be raised. We need to help them become who they were made to be. Not who we want them to become. Discipline them or teach character through showing them – not just telling them. A clear winner every time and you know who it’s going to be – ME as the parent. Because I know I won’t be winning them all when they’re 15. I need to work on that last part a bit more. Yikes!
- Affirm and praise your kids for good behavior; they will repeat what we affirm. And if we don’t, they’ll find it from someone else. The source may not be good either.
There was so much more, but here’s the whole message if you’d like to listen to it yourself. Who knows, the timing might be right for you too? Paul says it much better than I could write it anyway. Plus there’s some awesome music to listen to in the beginning.
I’m almost to my favorite words from the message, but I wanted to share this quote with you. It fit well with a conversation Sven and I had the other night.
“I’ve heard people say, I think my children should make their own decision about whether they believe in God or not. What other area in life do we say that? Don’t we want to have some input on that.” Paul Jorgensen.
Sven and I were talking about a controversial topic in today’s society and how we want to approach it with our kids. I asked Sven how he thinks I should handle it with the kids. Very quickly he replied with, “it’s simple, what do you believe in – do that. You wouldn’t follow society for how you teach your kids would you?”. Well… I guess not – but it is an easy trap to fall into. Ouch.
Now to my favorite words from Paul – Kids spell LOVE two ways.
T – I – M – E and L – I – S – T – E – N
I think those two words (time & listen) sum up all of my struggles/worries I listed at the beginning of this. Just maybe it’s time I stop worrying about what I should or shouldn’t be doing and instead just be.
Be in the moment with my kids.
Be in the moment when I’m with my husband.
Be in the moment when I’m with my friends.
Be in the moment.
Easy right… well with that. My kids are up for the day and I better go be in the moment. I’d love to hear in the comments one way you plan on spending more quality time with your kids.
