Training Your Son...

I share this with you because - it is real!

Lately I have been struggling with how to train my son. Do you know what I am talking about? You know, when you think you are being clear about something - but then your son does not seem to be "getting" it - even though he nods in agreement - that he understands what you are asking of him or telling him - but the actions are not following?

Yesterday I was really shocked by something that happened. And to be honest, I had been overlooking other offences and when this happened, I unleashed my fury which was ashamedly quite ungodly! Have you had one of those moments?

As I was "training" (ie lecturing) my son, I could hear accusation after accusation escape from my lips: "how can you be so irresponsible"? "don't you think before you do"? "are you kidding me - have you ever seen your mum or I do anything so stupid"? - That right there is a stupid question in and of itself! Of course he has not seen us do anything so stupid - because he was not around when we were 11 years old!

Finally it hit me - square between the eyes - Patrick, STOP! Stop with the accusations and let's recall all your failures and inconsistencies for a moment. And by the way - who has trained your son in this area? Have you ever told him not to do what you are "lecturing" him about?

There was this horrible sinking feeling! YOU, Patrick are condemning your son instead of showing grace. The grace that you want to be shown - you are not showing!

Oh brothers - the reality of that moment was priceless.

You see - I can expect my son to know what to do - but why should I expect that of him if I have not trained him in it?

For quite some time now, I have sensed the leading of the Holy Spirit to be going through Proverbs with my son. Together! Not just sending him to read Proverbs and hoping he gets it. But together!

I already know that I am going to have to fight and protect this time, but I believe it is going to serve him and myself to be reading through this wonderful book together!

You see Proverbs 1:7 says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction".

My son does not want to be a fool, and I don't want him to be one either, however I need to train him with what God's Word says. And by doing this - do you know what I find? When you "TRAIN" your children with the Gospel - you can't help but remember what a sinner you yourself are - but also the hope of God's correction. God is faithful to discipline those whom He loves. And His discipline is for our good - not for our harm! And most importantly - God's forgiveness to us when we confess our sins! How can we not be amazed and rejoice? Discipline then becomes some wierd and joyous occassion!

Us men need this sort of correction and care from our Heavenly Father! We then in turn, need to model this sort of forgiveness and care to our families - so they get a true representation of their Heavenly Father!

I wanted to keep this post brief - but I want to let you dads know - that training our children is such a great investment! It is hard work - but what a joy to train our children in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I just love parenting with an eternal perspective! What about you?

OZ Lotto goes to 90 Million Dollars

Some of you may have been tempted.

Some of you would never think of wasting your money on a lotto ticket.

I on the other hand, I bought into the frenzy - when OZ Lotto was at 50 million dollars.

The dreamers imagined themselves spending a mere $136,000.00 a day for a year. Crazy aye?

Well imagine you did buy into the frenzy. You purchase the ticket, justifying that it's just a one off. You hope that you might be the lucky recipient, but then what would you do with the money. It's a crazy and bizarre exercise.

After learning that you haven't won, you feel really deflated and bummed. 'Why did I buy that ticket?' 'What a waste of money', you may think. I did!

Then you learn that no one won the prize. Instead the jackpot has increased to 90 million dollars. Surely purchasing another ticket won't harm anything... Maybe my luck will be better next time. Well, instead of $136,000.00 a day you could spend almost $250,000.00 a day, for a year, I'll just try my luck one more time!

STOP!!! do you see the way we can get sucked into the frenzy? What's even more concerning is the way the mind can justify your behaviour?

In actual fact, this has been a crazy exercise for me. I have seen how my heart wants to have money so that I can be self sufficient. Oh sure I can justify my reasons to also include that I want the money so that I can provide for my children, I can help others etc... But I also know how I long to buy a huge house with all the extras for my large family. I could also buy a new van and a motorbike and a holiday home and a trip to America to visit my family there and a ....

What a discovery of my heart! A desire to not have to wait on God for my daily bread. Oh Lord, forgive this heart of mine...

Please know, those things that I have listed that I want, are not wrong in and of themselves. But I know my heart motive is to not have to wait for these things - but to have them NOW! To not have to ask God for help for these items.

Dad's we are tempted everyday to be self sufficient. To be independent. To be reliant on no one. Oh God help us to be dependant upon you. Especially when we are parenting our children with an eternal perspective...