Your kid's crossing the street and of course, you've taught him, "My son, pay attention!" Now those are words from God's HOLY Word today but they're HEAVY words in every MAMA'S house every day, right? Kids paying ATTENTION? Are you kidding? "Heaven, HELP us," and HE does, thank the Lord!
We spend a lifetime teaching, training, TALKING, trying to see our "little people" develop into useful, responsible, patriotic, clean, loyal, honest, respectable, God-loving, sin-hating BIG people. Long sentence - but it's a lot of hard work and a lot of hold-on heart!
A "little kid/big mama" traffic system works best....
STOP, Mama! Halt the kids before they run out the door to catch the school bus - or heaven forbid, drive themselves! Pray with them, hug them - and place them in God's care..,you might also want to privately pray that God will help you "STOP Mama's mouth" when, many days, it's ready to roar....cool it first, Mama, then be loving and firm as you train them with your calm words - and HIS!
LOOK around, Mama! - Who are their friends? What do they watch? Where do they surf? Where do they go? Keep those eyes moving in the back of your head - and your heart too. Watch for the ups and downs of their lives - when they're happy, excited, proud; when they're sad, scared, disappointed - hugs are in order at ALL times! Then here comes the hardest part, Mama - they're LOOKING at you - the way you live, the way you cope, the things you do and don't do....that's heavy, but HIS grace will shine through as you humbly serve the Lord.
LISTEN up, Mama!! We need to listen to our kids - that goes without question....but we also need to listen to the LORD, the One who created families in the first place, Who knows how to "raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord" and can give us wisdom and strength, far beyond ourselves, as we "teach the kids."
GO, Mama, GO! Take your vitamins, work at the office, clean your house, shop for the food, run for the fun, drive to the lessons, share the faith, and THEN you can DROP (and let DAD do it - chuckle!).....We live busy, dizzy lives as we raise the "little people" God has given us...and if you're a Grandma, you may be back to Square One doing it again......Lord, help us all.....and HE WILL. Obey the laws and regulations of His traffic system and then leave the rest to Him. He's the best Traffic Officer ever!!
Now, take a minute to STOP and VEG OUT, thank God for His keeping power, and have a big chocolate sundae - GOD is your partner - He'll direct the traffic while you take a break! Believe His Word, trust His promises, train the kids to serve Him and you will have a wonderful, choco-rich, non-fattening, patience-preserving day!
--by Peggie C. Bohanon. Copyright 2008, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.
--Excerpted from "When God Turns the Tables.". Read the entire devotional!
