I love when God uses our children to teach US something. This pretty much happens to me daily. Half of the time when I am talking to my kids about their behavior and trying to teach them how to deal with their sins, I am left laughing at myself at how I do the EXACT same thing! I love how the Holy Spirit fills you with words that you think you are delivering to your kids when He is speaking to you at the same time! Tonight was one of those nights. Last night Matt sent us all in a tail spin as he sent out the mayday call that he was in lots of pain and needed to go to the ER. With this family, it takes a small army to juggle everything. In the end, I took Matt to the ER and my parents were at home with all the kids. (Oh and he is fine now, he had sever pains in his chest and couldn't walk - don't know what it was, but it wasn't anything bad). My Mom told me that they were getting ready for story time before bed, when Finley decided to bite Chloe on the arm (not a horrible bite- didn't even leave a mark, but regardless, she did it). So tonight I called Finley to me and asked her what had happened the night before which resulted in her not being able to hear the story. She refused to tell me. She broke down in tears. I reassured her she wasn't getting into trouble, but she needed to admit to what she had done so that we can talk to her about it. No luck. I sent her to her room to calm down and told her I would come and ask her again. I asked again. The child said, "I....I ..... I...." and then she said something in some sort of crazy tongue language. She was not budging on this - she was not going to admit what she had done. She wouldn't even make eye contact! We went at it for over an hour....it was a long hour of tears. (When it was over, Harper looked at her and said, "Finley you look like you have been to the beach!" - her little eyes were that red) I explained to her that God knows what she did. He saw it. He knows every sin that she does. All He asks of her is to repent and ask for forgiveness. Finally she decided it was time to take the plunge and say the words......."I bit her!" The relief that flowed through her face was priceless. She looked straight at her sister and said, "I'm sorry for biting you." There were lots of hugs and smiles and then we dove straight into the word: Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times come back to you and says. "I repent." forgive him."
How many times do we do this ourselves? We won't look God in the eye and admit what we have done. We won't say the words because it hurts so much to verbally relive that sin. How we can't handle the disappointment of our OWN actions! But the relief that one receives after they ask for that forgiveness is amazing. You have been given forgiveness, it's up to us to go get it! Repentance is so important. That is why I won't let anyone in this house apologize with just an I'm sorry. It must be backed with what you are sorry for. By the end of the night, Finley was able to tell me that "repentance is saying sorry for what you did." I love watching how my daughter does exactly to me what I do to God. Her stubbornness is from me, but I am loving how God uses her to teach me.
I don't think I have mentioned this before, but I have a tool that I use in these situatuions that goes directly into my Bible. It is called the Child Training Bible. This is AMAZING!!! I can't stress how important this is in my family now. Taking my children straight to the word when things go wrong, takes everyone's emotions to a different level as we talk and discuss how God wants us to handle each situation. I more than highly recommend this. In fact, you need one even if you don't have kids. I use it so many times it's not even funny! I will sit and talk to the kids and then I turn over and say, "and Mommy needs to work on this....." It is the best $10 investment you will make (well more like $25 when you get the highlighters and tabs and a little more if you get a separate Bible, but you will not be disappointed!) Check it out....order it.....great Christmas gifts!!
http://www.childtrainingbible.com/
