On Monday, after being able to share in the joy and high of Jack making his decision for Christ, I, again, experienced the reality that this world is fallen.
Because I never want to embarrass (I guess I embarrass them but I don't want to bring shame) my kids I won't say exactly what happened but suffice it to say it was a low. A sorrow.
They've been learning in church that they are under a covering. An umbrella of safety. The top umbrella is God. The one under that is their parents. And the one under that is their teachers. Basically they are learning about godly authority and what happens when you step out from under it. When they (we) choose to disobey the authority God has placed in our lives we get hit by the yuck and have to deal with consequences that we would never have had to, that we are protected from under the umbrella, had we submitted to authority. My children have heard this and they know it. I'm not saying they do this all the time, I'm saying they know this.
Monday afternoon I discovered something that one of my kids had been doing that they totally knew was outside of the umbrella so to speak. It's not the end of the world by any means but it was more than I forgot to pick up my room or put away my toys. It was one of those things that you set rules for, as a parent, to protect your kids.
They stepped out. And my heart was broken. I wasn't angry at them. Just so very sad. It was a combination of me letting my guard down and them making choices they knew they weren't supposed to. In a way I feel responsible and in a way I'm just absolutely ticked off at the enemy for messing where he doesn't belong.
I suspect God feels this way about me when I step out from under my covering and make choices and then deal with consequences that He never wanted me to know. I realized, again, that He doesn't have rules and boundaries to control us, they are there for our protection. Just like I have for my children. Because He loves me.
I suspect God feels this way about me when I step out from under my covering and make choices and then deal with consequences that He never wanted me to know. I realized, again, that He doesn't have rules and boundaries to control us, they are there for our protection. Just like I have for my children. Because He loves me.
At the end of the day I am so very thankful that God is greater, stronger and higher than anything we encounter. He can right any wrong, overcome any situation and forgive any sin. Hallelujah. I'm sad for sin. Sad for choices. Sad for pain. But thankful for a God who saves, reconciles and redeems.
From high to low and and back. Thankful for all of it!
