Bless the Children

Written by Joyce C. Lock


Previous generations where raised underrepparttar premise that children are to be seen and not heard. If they altered in teaching,repparttar 111294 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 thanrepparttar 111295 comfort ofrepparttar 111296 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 meetrepparttar 111297 need ofrepparttar 111298 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 wererepparttar 111299 teachings of 'sparerepparttar 111300 rod, spoilrepparttar 111301 child'. Duringrepparttar 111302 days of preaching 'hell, fire, and brimstone', parents showed children what they thought God was like - drawing blood inrepparttar 111303 name ofrepparttar 111304 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 haverepparttar 111305 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.

Whiskers

Written 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 wasrepparttar 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 dorepparttar 111293 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 haverepparttar 111294 feelings and understanding of a toddler. He even talks back to us when he doesn't likerepparttar 111295 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 forrepparttar 111296 doorknob and attempt to open it for us. He hasrepparttar 111297 gift of helps! When he wants us to open a door for him, he'll dorepparttar 111298 same. "Ask and ye shall receive."

Withrepparttar 111299 aroma of cooking, Whiskers will run torepparttar 111300 kitchen. Much like we did as children, he's prepared to rinserepparttar 111301 pots and bowls by lickingrepparttar 111302 tasty residue. (Being inrepparttar 111303 age of dishwashers, germs aren't a problem.)

At meal time, Whiskers will select a chair aroundrepparttar 111304 kitchen table, just like any other member ofrepparttar 111305 family; patiently awaiting (most ofrepparttar 111306 time) scraps. (Just don't leave your plate until you're finished eating.)

Like children might sneak cookies,repparttar 111307 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 withrepparttar 111308 box lid closed. That's one of his all-time favorites.

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