Lessons Learned

 By Carl Kimbro, Fellowship Bible Church Celebrate Recovery Devotional Team, 2/17/21



Nothing strikes fear in my wife and my hearts more than a long drive on a family road trip. It's not the long hours that drives the fear. It's knowing that as soon as those seat belts click into place those well-mannered children will turn into wild, uncivilized maniacs. "Are we there yet?” "She's touching me!" If patience is a virtue, these are the times when I am virtue-less.

I like to think that I grow wiser with age, and after adopting our grandchildren, it would be easier the second time around, but Cheryl and I found we still need wisdom and help. Our granddaughters have been through a lot – abandonment at one and three years old, parents in prison, and the recent death of their mom whom they had not seen or heard from in five years. With her death, died their dream of reuniting with her.

Our experience raising kids did not prepare us for this, and we knew we couldn’t do it alone. We had to admit we needed help, and we had to be willing to share our struggles with leaders and others in Celebration Place and Celebrate Recovery. They blessed us and the girls in many ways. Encouragement for the girls, and extra love and compassion for them. The girls in turn responded by talking about their sorrow and pain. It brought them the comfort and peace they needed so badly. Cheryl and I were also blessed by prayers and a place to share our own pain. As a result, there are two major truths we were reminded of and want to share.

Encourage your children's innocence and willingness to trust that God answers prayer.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:3:

 

"Except you become like little children, you won't enter the kingdom of heaven”

 

Children believe God hears their prayers, and they pray expecting an answer. What seems a coincidence to us, they easily accept as answered prayer. This unwavering faith may weaken as they grow up and are influenced by the world, but we can, through our words and actions, encourage this trust and keep it alive in their hearts as they grow and mature. We can also learn from them and pray with childlike faith and expect an answer.    

Do not let anger overshadow your love for your child.

It's easy to be less loving when you are angry. Choose your words carefully. We can say things that are hurtful. It's when they are misbehaving and when we have disciplined them for their actions that they need our love and forgiveness the most. It's true for us as children of God as well. God set the example for us. Psalm 103:12 says:

 

"As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us"

 

The distance between the east and west is a distance unmeasurable. God forgives us and casts our sins far away. Once forgiven, His righteous anger dissipates, and He remembers the sin no more. It does not say He never disciplines us. It says He does not remain angry with us forever. So too should we be with our children. Discipline is needed, but forgive and forget the sin. Through this they will learn how to forgive and love unconditionally.   

These seem so simple, yet they are not. 

Lessons we learn have to be practiced, even the second time around. And I will get plenty of practice time. I just need to remember God loves me and is patient with me. Let that peace of mind guide you in raising your children. 

Click HERE to listen to "East to West" by Casting Crowns


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