We don't always know why...

but we know how we should respond! God's Word teaches us. Yet...so often we respond to things that happen in our life in the wrong way...in the flesh...with no regard for what we know from God's Word. Is it that we forget, don't know, or don't care? Or is it that we don't take time to think...before we repsond? I had the 'privilege' of dealing with a situation yesterday afternoon...because Dad said it was a Mom situation. Great!
In the flesh, we both were ready to handle it in the wrong way. If I told you, you wouldn't believe it anyway! Most likely, you probably would have had the same thoughts about how to handle it. It took a minute or so for the offender to make her required appearance...which gave me time to collect my thoughts. I was able to handle it in the right spirit, discipline appropriately, restore, and move on.

When I was finished, Ted and I looked at each other and said, "Why?"

I wondered if that is what the Lord is constantly asking when we do wrong! "Why? What are they thinking?"

This incident was a 'little thing'...but isn't that what parenting is all about? Dealing with the little things each and every day, so when the big things come...our children will know and understand what is right and what is wrong?! When we shirk our responsibility and ignore these little things...pretty soon...we have a huge problem! And it ain't cute anymore!

I thought back to the story we shared with the kids the other night. Job's parents had to have done something right in the training of their son! His testimony before others was acknowledged by God for all of history. It was also despised by satan! Job chose to honor God...in his life...no matter the situation...no matter the influence!

We read the story of Job during family devotions. Ted had Ashlynn take notes in her new notebook, so we could go back and see what God allowed to happen in Job's life. I listened to the verses as Ted read. I listened to the explanations of a Daddy to his children. I saw the understanding light up their eyes. "Job was a real person!" It hit me, Job recognized God as his Creator, Sustainer, Comforter, Master, and Judge. His thought process centered around how God would be glorified in his life. He acknowledged the authority of God!

We don't always know why our children do certain things...but if we can consistently point them to God's authority in their life...they will know why they shouldn't do certain things! It's a choice we make as parents. The choice we make...can often explain alot of the whys? we see in the world!