Today’s Daily Bread ~ “Punch her in the eye!”

Jeremiah 31:20 – “Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” asks the LORD.  “I had to punish him, but I still love him.  I long for him and surely will have mercy on him.”

I find it interesting; the way exhaustion manifests itself in my children.  When I’m at the end of a long day, I can barely keep my eyes open long enough to collapse into bed.  My kids, however, seem to get more and more wound up, until they are just bouncing off the walls.

Yesterday was a perfect example.  No naps for either one of them.  After church, Nick and I ran to a nearby park and spent the afternoon feeding the ducks.  Caitlyn had a play-date at a friend’s house.  Then it was off to Chili’s for a birthday dinner.  For all practical purposes, they should’ve been collapsing in a tired heap.

Not so much.  After baths, it was everything I could do to coral them long enough to put PJ’s on and brush teeth.  While I was struggling with Nick to stop “playing karate,” Caitlyn started chanting “Punch her in the eye!  Punch her in the eye!”  Before I could turn to tell my little girl to stop, a right hook connected with a left eye, and I was seeing stars.

Justice was swift.  I sent both children to their rooms until their father got back from an errand.  Then I surveyed the damage.

It was pink, but I escaped a shiner.  I marveled at the strength of my three year-old as I tidied up and put the laundry away.  About ten minutes later, I heard the garage door open.

He had an earful before he was six steps in.  “You need to talk to your son,” I said, “and your daughter.”  I filled him in, and then added, “And you’d better let him have it.  If he doesn’t respect his mother, he won’t respect women.  And Caitlyn needs to know what an accomplice is.”

As much as the pop to the eye hurt, the heartache from disciplining my children hurt more.  I know they’re young.  I know that neither of them really meant to do anything malicious.  But part of being a good, loving parent means correction and guidance.  Sometimes, it even means a swat to the hiney. 

Luke 13:34 – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers!  How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.  And now look, your house is left to you empty.  And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

For my children, discipline immediately follows the offense.  Perhaps one of the more frightening things about living in the age of grace as we do is this: God will let us continue in our sin.  He will let us refuse His love.  He will let us ignore His whispers.  He is constantly wooing us to return, but if we insist, He will let us harden our hearts.

Jeremiah 31:21-22 – “Set up road signs; put up guideposts.  Mark well the path by which you came.  Come back again, my virgin Israel; return to your cities here.  How long will you wander, my wayward daughter?  For the LORD will cause something new and different to happen – Israel will embrace her God.”

After Mike had punished our sweet children, he came downstairs.  “Nick has already cried himself to sleep, but Caitlyn wants to talk to you,” he said.  “She’s afraid you’ll never forgive her.”

“Oh, that sweet baby!” I cried, and took the stairs two at a time.

“Hi honey,” I said softly after I’d knocked on her door.  “Daddy says you wanted to talk to me.”

She was sobbing as though her little heart was torn in two.  “I’m sorry, Mommy!” she wept.  “Please forgive me!”

I crawled into bed with my firstborn child, who’d had my heart the instant I’d known I was carrying her.  I pulled her close and whispered, “Sweet girl, I already have.” 

We talked for a few minutes, and she apologized again.  “Caitlyn,” I said, “this is forgotten, and absolutely forgiven.  We don’t ever need to speak of it again.  You are a good girl, and I love you more than you can imagine.  Even when I’m upset with you, honey, I still love you more than life itself.”

Come back again, my virgin Israel…for the LORD will cause something new and different to happen…

When my children misbehave, it doesn’t surprise me.  How much more so, then, does Jesus empathize with us?  He knows we will make mistakes, and loves us with an unfailing, everlasting love in spite of them.  When we sincerely repent, when we come to Him with true sorrow and remorse for our sins, God makes us new.  He cleanses us, carefully removing each stain with the purifying blood of Christ.  Scripture tells us that He casts our inequities into the ocean, they are as far from Him as the east is from the west, and He never thinks on them again.  Don’t hold onto them.  Give them to your Father, and be made new.

Dear God, it’s hard to fathom the kind of love You have for us, and I don’t imagine we’ll ever grasp it this side of heaven.  Please guide our steps, Father, and when we go our own way, be quick to steer us back.  Lord, we don’t shy away from Your discipline, because we know it brings us closer to You.  Just like we correct our children because we love them and want what’s best for them, so You do with us.  God, today we ask that we could truly feel, as best as our human condition will allow, the depth and breadth of Your love for us.  Pour out Your Holy Spirit on us, Lord, fill us so full of Your love and compassion that we simply have to pass it on.  Let us see Your people like You see them.  Let us love them like You do.  Help us to remain smack in the center of Your will, because that is the only place where peace can be found.  We love You, God, help us to love You more!  Multiply our faith exponentially!  We pray these things in the blessed, holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.