So I have really been stressing with my kids and showing them scripture that teaches the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated.  There unfortunately seem to be no shortage of real life examples as we go through the day of times when they have not treated one another the way that they would want to be treated and in a way that would please God. 

But reflecting in my own heart, I had to ask myself:  Do I treat them the way I would want to be treated?  Do I treat them the way I want them to treat one another?  Do I treat them the way I expect them to treat me?  Do I even treat them as well as I would treat a stranger or someone else's kids?  Glaring, convicting answer to all of these questions is NO. 

Then, I received some teaching last night from Deuteronomy 6, a very familiar parenting passage:  "You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."  We looked at the verses just before, verses that I quote to my kids often:   You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am comanding you today shall be ON YOUR HEART."  I am unable to teach my kids what I am not doing in my own life.  The words and teaching need to be on my heart and in my life FIRST!  My heart also needs to reflect my love for Christ.  Christ tells us that if we love Him we will obey Him.  I have to admit that many times I neglect a teachable moment or an "opportunity" to discipline my children because I am being lazy and my comfort is more important to me at that moment than doing what would please God.  Not a coincidence at all that my children struggle with this too. 

So my prayer is that I would love the Lord with all my heart and with all my sould and with all my heart.  I pray that I would be diligent to hear, read, study and meditate on His Word and that it would seep deep into my heart.  I pray that I would love God so much that I would desire to obey Him, especially in the areas of parenting and being a good witness to my children.  I pray also that I would love my children as I love myself and treat them the way that I would want them to treat me, one another and any other neighbor they come into contact with.  I thank God for His Word that is so powerful to teach and change and that He is gracious to entrust these young souls to me.

Grace & peace,

-J