I’m Going to Have Different Rules

My dear daughter has told me a few times lately, “When I grow up, I’m going to have different rules than you do.”

That’s partly because of discussions we have had about things we do that are family rules, and things we do that are God’s rules. When they have their own household, they’ll develop their own family culture. Cultural rules are flexible among families, and sometimes good families disagree. Like… children at our house can play in the rain. Other children aren’t allowed to do that. Children at our house must eat vegetables before fruit. Our children might choose to eat fruit first when they have children of their own.

Not all the rules she’s talking about are harmless like the timing of dessert. Sometimes they’re things we do that have complicated reasons. And sometimes I just have not taken the time to explain the reasons well. What I don’t want is her to grow up 1)afraid to talk about those differences of opinion 2) not knowing why we do what we do, especially when good reasons exist, and 3) unconvinced when biblical principles are clear in view (Yes, I am aware of my fallibility.)

I’ve been thinking on this. I need to be thinking about it through the lens of Scripture, so that means I need to think about what Scriptures might apply here. Maybe later I’ll write about it.