I’m really great at lecturing. You should come hear me sometime.
This morning, I had a selfish little girl. And I was ready for a lecture, because one thing I’m good at as a mom is the lecture. In fact, I can keep going nearly indefinitely explaining what’s wrong and how to fix it. Funny thing, I can see my children’s eyes start to glaze over and that’s how I know that sadly, lecture mode isn’t the best way to help my children change. I’m learning the value of simply trying to understand her point of sadness, stating it, and then asking if I’ve stated it correctly. You’re sad because it seems like everybody else is getting the good stuff and you want it to be equal?
It doesn’t matter that her grief was caused by her sin. We will get there.
I’ve also learned the value of stating the obvious: it’s difficult to be thankful when we don’t get what we want, isn’t it? It’s sometimes hard to know how to have a good attitude, isn’t it?
I’m also learning that instruction is best when it’s simple. I can’t make her believe it by stating it over and over. Or saying it five different ways.
Dear one, Sometimes we have to do right even when we don’t feel like it. If we wait until we feel like it, we’ll keep crying. Stop crying, and find something happy to think about.
And of course, I’m learning that repentance doesn’t happen on command. Sometimes I have to give space. (I know that when I’ve been corrected, I don’t like being pressured to respond rightly, immediately.)
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