Bless the ChildrenWritten by Joyce C. Lock
Previous generations where raised under premise that children are to be seen and not heard. If they altered in teaching, next generation was heard, but their words weren't taken seriously - as adults always think they know more than children do. Following generations often have few to no guidelines, wherein children's behavior screams for someone to care enough to say, "No." Though, what if God did that to us? When we call out to Him, can you imagine God responding with, "I can't hear you"? When we cry, what if He mocked our words, "Cry my hands full. You're nothing but a big baby"? Or, we could be given them blame for all that ails us, "All he does is wine", or even worse, "Come here and I'll give you something to cry about!" What if God didn't care more about you than comfort of moment, "Sure, do whatever you want. I just want you to like me." Try some of that on church visitation and see how effective you are. But, instead, God takes great care in parenting to do it right. He looks deeper, to meet need of heart. Why should God listen to our prayers when we don't listen to our children? Doesn't God love us enough to say, "No", when it will hurt us or someone else? Still worse were teachings of 'spare rod, spoil child'. During days of preaching 'hell, fire, and brimstone', parents showed children what they thought God was like - drawing blood in name of Lord. What happened to "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"? Is it any wonder adults think they can't come to God? Once children "know" they have a consistent place of refuge, they can depend upon in time of need, many annoying traits of childhood disappear. Few come to realize children are living souls first and children second. Taking God as a perfect example, we're to be spiritual parents. Only when children become willfully defiant for non-need reasons do we have right to act in disciplinary fashions, and, still then, with God's guidance. If God offered us grace, then why do we hold children accountable under our law (or His) without consideration of extenuating circumstances? And, when we accuse and punish children, without considering their heart or getting facts straight, we could be shedding innocent blood.
| | WhiskersWritten by Joyce C. Lock
Growing up, I recall discussions about how it was impossible for animals to go to heaven, being that they don't have a spirit. How could they have one, being that they don't talk and, thus, can't understand or communicate with God? Or, at least, that was winning argument. Though, I've wondered, more and more, how that it would be possible for them not to have a spirit, after having our current cat; Whiskers. We've never had one like him before. When we snap our fingers, in disapproval, Whiskers wines. When he wants to do something that he isn't suppose to do, he'll wine as if we've scolded him already. Knowing he'll get into trouble for doing it, Whiskers proceeds to do thing he isn't suppose to, anyway ... fully anticipating that we'll immediately tell him to stop, for which he reluctantly does; perhaps also testing to see if we care enough to respond. In every way, Whiskers appears to have feelings and understanding of a toddler. He even talks back to us when he doesn't like rules. Others have said they've never heard a cat make sounds like he does, sort of like how a baby's cry has different meanings. When our hands are full and we need to open a door, Whiskers will reach for doorknob and attempt to open it for us. He has gift of helps! When he wants us to open a door for him, he'll do same. "Ask and ye shall receive." With aroma of cooking, Whiskers will run to kitchen. Much like we did as children, he's prepared to rinse pots and bowls by licking tasty residue. (Being in age of dishwashers, germs aren't a problem.) At meal time, Whiskers will select a chair around kitchen table, just like any other member of family; patiently awaiting (most of time) scraps. (Just don't leave your plate until you're finished eating.) Like children might sneak cookies, evidence later to be revealed, we discover pieces of food Whiskers has snitched, then hid to eat. It isn't a good idea to leave white powdered donuts out, even with box lid closed. That's one of his all-time favorites.
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