As a parent on the side of adult children and the blessing of grandchildren, I was thinking about the struggles of parenting: the exhaustion, the long nights, the feeling of failure. Will they ever learn to feed themselves without creating 20 minutes of cleanup? Will they ever follow instructions without an argument or 20 questions? Looking back, the idea of an obedient child was a mountain that seemed too high to climb.
Then, one day, I found a glimmer of hope. My kids were spending time with other families, and we received comments that blew Carah and me away. “Your kids are such a joy to be around.” “Albert was so helpful.” “Bailey followed all of our instructions.” I can remember each of these encouraging words as if they happened last week because we, as parents, were so desperate for hope amid the grind of parenting.
Looking back, I see the value of all the hard work of raising obedient kids. I know what fun it can be to be out in a restaurant enjoying a meal with the family without outbursts. I see how enjoyable vacations, holidays, and even bedtime are when kids have boundaries. Having obedient kids with boundaries is one of the hardest things to accomplish and the most rewarding thing a parent can enjoy. It is true that all things worth having take lots of hard work.
About halfway through my parenting career, the Lord asked me, “If your kids can not obey you whom they can see, how will they ever obey me?” This simple thought reverberated profoundly in my mind for the rest of my years raising kids. Growing up, I had a very strict father who was always aware of what I was getting into. I know it came from the fact that, as a child, no one watched over him, and the lack of boundaries only caused him harm. Because of my strict father and the boundaries I had growing up, it was very easy at 32 years old to obey my Heavenly Father.
See, the one thing Jesus wants from all of us is obedience. He wants us to obey the Ten Commandments, love others recklessly, forgive those who hurt us, and offer our enemies a drink of water. But why does He demand these things? Does He do it to be mean? To Lord over us from high up in the sky like we are all just his puppets? No, He does it because just like our kids thrive in healthy boundaries, so do we.
Jesus promises that if we follow His commands, we will live fulfilled lives amid life’s storms. He even says if we seek His will on earth, we can taste heaven on earth. This Sunday, we are going to peek into the story of a disciple who was obedient to God’s voice and ended up changing an entire nation.
This Sunday will also be an opportunity for baptism, a chance to be obedient to God’s voice and get baptized. If you feel this tug in your heart but have concerns, contact me, and I will answer your questions. See you Sunday at 9:30
In Him,
Pastor Chris