Rules

Rules. They are inevitable. Recently I had some insight from my kids where they strive to do right but feel like they can’t measure up. In a world that has so much influence, raising children is HARD! But no matter what my children do or say....there is nothing that would impact how much and how endless my love is for them. My parenting method has always been to instill in them values but let them know that if they fall, I am here and love them the same. I set rules but they are inevitably broken at times and though there may be consequences, my love remains and I want them to know that to strive for perfection is a slippery slope because with failing comes disappointment and guilt.

From experience, guilt leads to defeat and separation from God. Sometimes when we mess up, our guilt overwhelms us and we feel like we cannot measure up. When we focus on God and listen to the gentle voice of the spirit, I believe we are drawn to live in freedom. Even when we fail, He is there to hold us and tell us we have a purpose and not to give up. I feel like so many people are bound by their inability to see the freedom God has promised us. It’s not a free pass to do what you want without consequences but I’ve learned to lean on God daily, to spend time with Him....and my heart longs to please him.

Once upon a time, I hid. I ran. I was ashamed.

But my God is approachable. When I fail, I go to him and talk to him. I recognize the human weakness and I pray that God will help me to overcome it. My heart’s desire is to please him, just as our children want to do what is right and make us proud.

As a parent, I was to be approachable and forgiving. Accepting and nurturing.

God, help me to be the parent you created me to be.

Romans 8:1-4

8 So now the case is closed.There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. 2 For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us from the “law” of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature.

Yet God sent us his Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave his body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin. 4 So now every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living his life in us. And we are free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit!