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It's What's Best For You

I had to have a serious talk with my boys tonight.  I had been noticing some facets of their character that I did not think was necessarily wrong, but it was not what I think was the best.  So just before they went to bed, we had a Five Minute Blitz (our version of a devotional).

As many of you know, I am really working hard to build our famliy on the standards of the Bible.  Well, the backdrop for this conversation stemmed from an abbreviated Deuteronomy 10:12-13:

"And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God...to love Him...and to observe the Lord's commands that I am giving you today for your own good?"

I have been noticing that they were not giving their full potential in their everyday lives.  Yes, they are boys...young boys at that.  Yet, I know what they are capable of.  I now understand why my dad pushed me so hard.  He encouraged me (made me) to do chores, to wake up early (6am...ish as a teenager-who does that?) on Saturday mornings to chop wood in the middle of the blistering winter (well, it was Atlanta), to get a job ONE day after my 16th birthday at a grocery store, to pay for the gas in my pimped out, navy blue...Chevy Citation...all of these lessons are now starting to make sense. 

So as I spoke with my boys, I had to emphasize that how I am train them is 'for their own good.'  This is training. I even have a motto around the house: if you see me working, YOU work!  I just hope that they understood that this conversation was a demonstration of my love for them.  Talk to me...I am NOS...

Comments

  1. UnknownSunday, March 27, 2011

    The hubs and I definitely need to bring the scriptures to our niece and nephew as we explain to them our pushing them is for their good. They know we're trying to help them so that things go better for them as they grow, but God will be the one to make it all stick. Thanks D.

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  2. Beth MMonday, March 28, 2011

    I love the idea of a "Blitz" devo and work when I am philosophy. You a such a great dad!

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  3. UnknownTuesday, March 29, 2011

    Great thoughts! Helping our kids realize their full potential is a great challenge for parents. And I love the motto: If you see me working, YOU work! Thanks, man!

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  4. AnonymousSaturday, July 02, 2011

    An essential talk. When imparting wisdom, there's no way to ensure another's understanding! One can only plant an ambitious seed; water it frequently with references to nourish the soil. As your boys grow, these seeds will sprout; fighting every grain, piercing the soil to inhale a mighty breath. As you now recall and understand the words/lessons imparted by your father, with this training, so will they. MLB

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