For Christian family is a tradition of giving thanks, whether it be in a service, to each other, in testimony, song, offering, in a family circle, or in prayer. Though those words may be well intended, sincere, and heart felt ... perhaps we should also give thanks for "our" survival.

STONING: When one thinks they're doing God a favor by cutting you off at pass, silencing you, rooting you out of a position, or not letting you participate because you haven't conformed to their ideas for acceptance (leaving you on outside looking in).

FLOOD: When adversity hits, one after another, until you are so overwhelmed that you can feel yourself drowning.

TRIAL: Spiritual warfare; when Satan tries you through suffering and temptation (meant to slow you down, distract you, detour you from your calling, and even convince you to quit).

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.