“You can’t reach it! You can’t reach it!” Thomas chanted as he circled the room, full speed ahead, ball held high above his head. Timothy and Ezra followed him in circles, temporarily entertained. Amelia caught up to him but he evaded her grasp. She quickly tired of his game and wandered off in search of something else to do. When the two younger boys stopped chasing him, Thomas bounded into the kitchen where his mom worked on his dinner. “You can’t reach it! You can’t reach it!” he repeated playfully. Just as he sped past, she snagged the ball from his hand and held it high. He stopped, pivoted toward her, jumped repeatedly, reaching for the ball with outstretched hands. “It’s no fun when you’re the shortest, is it, buddy?” she asked, smiling slyly before handing him the ball. His smile in return told her he understood.
“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.
If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.””
Proverbs 3:27-28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.3.27-28.NLT
Teachable moments present themselves throughout our days. Why not take every opportunity to teach Biblical truth? One of the ways I choose to validate appreciated behavior is by remembering together. My grandchildren always enjoy when I retell stories from our day, especially stories where they are the hero. They want to know what they said or did, as if they had forgotten, simply because they know I am proud of them. They are never fond of the answers I must give their parents when questioned about a particular misbehavior. The Psalmist, Asaph, gave a brief history lesson to God’s wayward people in order to draw their hearts back to allegiance to the one true God. He pointed to the root of their unfaithfulness, their disobedience that stemmed from forgetfulness. We must recount the faithfulness of God as well in our own lives for this fuels the fire of obedience ignited by God’s Spirit.
“They did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his instructions.
They forgot what he had done— the great wonders he had shown them,”
Psalms 78:10-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.78.10-11.NLT
“O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.
For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.
Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.”
Psalms 78:1-8, 10-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.78.1-8.NLT
I remind my children regularly when they tire of repeating themselves as they parent their own children of my father’s favorite maxim when I was the young mother of three under five. “Longsuffering!” my dad would repeat, drawing out the length of each syllable for effect. My reply was always the same. “If you mean I will suffer a lot for a long time then you are not wrong!” Even though my kids are all grown, he still pulls out this gem. Long-suffering, a fruit of God’s Spirit in the life of a believer has also been translated as patience or forbearance. Made up of two Greek words, long-suffering literally means “long-tempered,” possessing a long fuse, or showing self-restraint when stirred to anger. Parenting necessitates repeating yourself and to do so with grace, like our father in heaven, requires assistance. God stands ready to strengthen all whose hearts are fully committed to Him. (II Chronicles 16:9)
“So, what does all this mean?
If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us?
For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son.
And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give.”
Romans 8:31-32 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/rom.8.31-32.TPT
God who numbers the hairs on my head knows my thoughts. “You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.”
(Psalms 139:4) The One to whom we will each give an account and before whom every knee will bow examines our hearts. (Proverb 21:2) He is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:27)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.139.23-24.NLT
When we instruct our children, we expect an appropriate response. Their humanity ensures that what we get will vary.
“Always be humble and gentle.
Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”
Ephesians 4:2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.4.2.NLT
“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.”
Proverbs 3:3-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.3.3-4.NLT
Come often to God. Remember His patience with you. He does not want anyone to perish. He longs for all to come to repentance. God’s delay simply reveals His loving patience. The day of the Lord will come and take everyone by surprise. We live in light of His Truth, looking forward to the day of His return and hurrying it along, keeping in mind that our Lord’s extraordinary patience simply means more opportunity for salvation! (II Peter 3:9-15 TPT)
“A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.”
Psalms 84:10-12 NLT
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