A thought on correction

We sat at the school room table as I read the mornings devotional.

We had been having a particularity hard time in the area of obedience with one of our boys and the topic of the morning was none other than - obedience.

As we came to the last paragraph I shared my own struggle. I said, “So often I start my morning telling myself that I’m not going to complain today and yet the day begins and I start complaining without even thinking about it.”

Our little guy looked at me with eyes wide with understanding as he responded, “Yes! That’s just what happens to me every day!”

And that was the reminder my own heart needed.

It’s easy for me as a mother to often assume that the child has no care to behave well, the bad attitudes, the neglect to follow instructions - yes, they all need to be addressed - but to remember that you are leading little souls who are also at war with their sin.

When I understand this it changes how I address the situation. I now can offer the encouragment that they are so in need of along with the inevitable consequences of their actions. I can spur them on and, most of all, cover them in prayer.

How often we forget - our little kiddos have a sin nature to wrestle with each day. They often feel the weight of it. They often feel the frustration of doing wrong again and again.

Mama, keep pouring out the Gospel - keep drawing it all back to Christ. May we always make space in our correction to give them the real solution - not only to try harder but to turn to the one who can cleanse and sanctify our hearts.

We walked through a sweet little conversation about the how the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness - the three of us. And I hope the words echo in their hearts every day ahead of them.

We are placed in our children’s lives to daily demonstrate and speak the message that we can not do it, but Christ always can.