Today’s Daily Bread ~ “Up me!”

Hosea 11:1-2 – “When Israel was a child, I loved him as a son, and I called my son out of Egypt.  But the more I called to him, the more he rebelled, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols.”

My son is (what I imagine to be) a typical three year old boy.  His mission?  To seek and destroy anything and everything, especially if it belongs to his sister.  She builds a tower, he knocks it down.  She finishes a puzzle, and in one fell swoop he scatters the pieces everywhere.

He is very articulate, and also has a good sized vocabulary.  However, you’d never know it to talk to him.  “Nick, what would you like for lunch?” I ask.  “Poopy!” he hollers gleefully.  “Peanut butter poopy!”

To be honest with you, I just thought that was the funniest thing until his preschool teacher sat me down for a little talk.  Apparently “poopy” is not on the nice-word list.  Nor should it be.  And neither do they tolerate the seek-and-destroy method of play.  Nor should they (and not that we did).

So now my husband and I are desperately trying to mold and shape our little boy’s behavior.  It’s not going so well.

Nick spends quite a bit of time in time-out.  The rough-housing has actually gotten a lot better.  It’s the poopy-talk.  We’re playing one-strike-and-you’re-out on that one. 

Yesterday was a rough one for my little guy.  “Caitlyn, you’re a poopy-head!”  “Nick, you march straight to that corner!  You know better.”  Over and over again.

Isn’t it amazing?  We truly are born sinners.  I can promise you, I did not teach my son to use that language.  He did not learn to steal toys by watching Mike and I.  When Mike has something I want, I ask him for it nicely, and vice versa. 

Most children must be taught to share, they have to learn to play together harmoniously.  Lying comes as naturally as breathing.

I’ve never enjoyed disciplining my children, but I love them so much that I’m diligent with it.  I want to tend the soil of their heart so the seeds Mike and I sow will flourish.  Proverbs 22:6 says “Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.” 

Just like my children need discipline, so do we.  Our Heavenly Father loves us too much to let us wander off the path.  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.”

My husband, by default of being male, has the more threatening tone when it comes to punishment.  When Mike disciplines Nick, he does the absolute sweetest thing.  He runs to me, sobbing, and cries, “Up me!  Up me, mommy, up me!”  Oh, that we would respond the same way to our Heavenly Father.

Our natural instinct when reprimanded is to slink away and sulk, yet He longs for us, and surely will have mercy on us!  I tell my children all the time to come to mommy when something is wrong, don’t try to hide it or fix it on your own.  When we struggle with sin we should run straight to the Lord, crying, “Up me!  Up me, Abba, up me!”  David the Psalmist said it best, “Let Your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone (Psalm 33:22).”

Dear Heavenly Father, we love You so much.  Thank You for your unending forgiveness.  You are the God of endless second chances, may we never fail to ask for them.  God, we pray that You would sharply convict us when we sin, and that You would lead us back onto the path of righteousness.  Help us to be a living witness to Your mercy and grace.  Give us hearts that would extend that same mercy and grace to others.  We thank You for Your Son, Father, and we ask these things in His blessed, holy name.  For Jesus Christ’s sake, amen.