Radical Obedience - Part 1
When my husband and I had our first son, I readbooks on parenting and discipline and I was determined that our children would obey the first time.
I remember some of our first efforts at producing first time obedience and I'm proud to say that it was a strong start! At least for a few months or so! Once he turned two, things began to digress a little and we moved to second time obedience.
Not on purpose of course.
I just got busy and lax in my discipline.
It became a 'fun game' of "how many times must I tell you before you will actually obey!" Okay, fun is maybe the wrong word.
How about insane!!! Now, we have a four month old and I can't tell you how many times I've asked my three year old to do something and after a few minutes realize it hasn't been done.
Of course the second time I ask with a stronger tone and expect that this time for sure he will obey.
To my dismay, there are occasions when we get to a third time.
It is here that I use his middle name and remind him of the consequences for disobeying.
By now, I am tired and frustrated, yet I have set myself up for this, right? Don't get me wrong.
There have been instances where the 'game' has lasted a lot longer than just three exchanges! It comes down to how desperate I am to teach him 'Radical Obedience'.
Am I willing to make the sacrifices to see him succeed? As a parent of two small children it is easy to give up and let him win because I'm tired, frustrated, the baby is crying, the phone is ringing, etc..
..
How about those of you with teenagers? How easy is it to give up and let them win because you get tired of arguing, or you get asked so many questions that you get distracted from the reason why you were insisting on obedience! Regardless of how old our children are, excuses are simply our inability to be 'Radically Obedient' to God, OUR Father.
Are we reaping what we have sown? About 9 years ago, God gave me a new understandingof what it means to obey and He expressed it as 'Radical Obedience'.
He shared with me that the definition of 'Radical Obedience' is : Extreme submission to the command of authority.
Many of us would LOVE a child to be 'Radically Obedient'? Some of you might have had the joy of this experience, but many of us have gone through the painful journey of strong willed children!I believe that as we strive each day to teach our children and teenagers to respect authority and 'Radically Obey', we must reflect on ourselves and question where we lack in that area.
God's Word is clear as to what He expects from us concerning parenting.
He has given us the gift of stewarding over these children and He simply asks us to be 'Radically Obedient' to Him.
2006 copyright equippingparents.
com
I remember some of our first efforts at producing first time obedience and I'm proud to say that it was a strong start! At least for a few months or so! Once he turned two, things began to digress a little and we moved to second time obedience.
Not on purpose of course.
I just got busy and lax in my discipline.
It became a 'fun game' of "how many times must I tell you before you will actually obey!" Okay, fun is maybe the wrong word.
How about insane!!! Now, we have a four month old and I can't tell you how many times I've asked my three year old to do something and after a few minutes realize it hasn't been done.
Of course the second time I ask with a stronger tone and expect that this time for sure he will obey.
To my dismay, there are occasions when we get to a third time.
It is here that I use his middle name and remind him of the consequences for disobeying.
By now, I am tired and frustrated, yet I have set myself up for this, right? Don't get me wrong.
There have been instances where the 'game' has lasted a lot longer than just three exchanges! It comes down to how desperate I am to teach him 'Radical Obedience'.
Am I willing to make the sacrifices to see him succeed? As a parent of two small children it is easy to give up and let him win because I'm tired, frustrated, the baby is crying, the phone is ringing, etc..
..
How about those of you with teenagers? How easy is it to give up and let them win because you get tired of arguing, or you get asked so many questions that you get distracted from the reason why you were insisting on obedience! Regardless of how old our children are, excuses are simply our inability to be 'Radically Obedient' to God, OUR Father.
Are we reaping what we have sown? About 9 years ago, God gave me a new understandingof what it means to obey and He expressed it as 'Radical Obedience'.
He shared with me that the definition of 'Radical Obedience' is : Extreme submission to the command of authority.
Many of us would LOVE a child to be 'Radically Obedient'? Some of you might have had the joy of this experience, but many of us have gone through the painful journey of strong willed children!I believe that as we strive each day to teach our children and teenagers to respect authority and 'Radically Obey', we must reflect on ourselves and question where we lack in that area.
God's Word is clear as to what He expects from us concerning parenting.
He has given us the gift of stewarding over these children and He simply asks us to be 'Radically Obedient' to Him.
2006 copyright equippingparents.
com
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