Let me tell you a story. It's more of a learning moment, than it is a story, but it is one of those precious moments in time, that makes you grow as a parent and as a Christian.
Our daughter Lily is a very cheeky little 3 year old (and I wouldn't have it any other way). And she has taken to stomping her foot when she doesn't get her way. Luke and I had warned Lily all throughout the week that there would be consequences if she didn't stop stomping her foot. On this particular occasion, she decided she wanted a fruit snack, after already having one, and not eating much of her dinner, and much to my surprise (not really :)) she got angry and stomped her foot. When we ignored her, she stomped louder. Luke preceded to tell her, "Lily if you stomp your foot again, like we have talked about before, I will spank you, you are being disobedient." Well, guess who stomped her foot again? You guessed it. And then threw herself on the floor in disgust.
So he told her to get up and come with him, because she was going to be disciplined. Luke always takes her to a quiet area and explains why she is being spanked. She got up willingly and grabbed his hand and walked with him. As they were walking into the other room I heard her say, "Daddy, is it going to hurt?" In which tears started to well up in my own eyes hearing her ask.
He then told her why she was being spanked and proceeded to spank her. She cried of course and crawled up in his arms to have him hold her until she stopped. She then said, "I'm sorry Daddy for stomping my foot."
Now, don't get me wrong, a lot of the time, it doesn't go this way. She will cry immediately, she will throw herself down, she will not apologize right away, or even she will ask us if we are sad that we hurt her feelings (which it does kill us to have to discipline her, but we love her and care for her future, and that's why we do) But this time was different. Why?
That night as we lay in bed, Luke relieved the story to me from his perspective, and he was struck by the trust his daughter had in him, even when she knew she was going to be disciplined. He asked me if I was amazed that she willingly held his hand knowing she was being spanked and then let her hold her afterwards. Personally at the time I hadn't thought about it that way.
It is amazing how much trust she has in us as her parents, she knows without a doubt that we love her. She wants to be with us, even when it isn't fun. We need to have that same relationship with God. Full absolute trust and love that pulls us to cling to him with every decision, every day, every situation. Its when life gets hard, and we know our bad decisions are going to have a negative effect on us, and we are hurting, that we need to draw closest to God. And through that he continues to have the immense patience when we completely don't deserve it and when we continue to mess up and be disobedient.
If only I could be so humble to hold Jesus' (Abba Father's) hand as I am going through life. When His way is the stark opposite of the world's way and persecution will happen. Of course I will ask, "Will this hurt?" What I hope and pray is that I walk WILLINGLY and hold him afterwards and forever.
I want you to know that Jesus Christ desires that relationship with everyone. He died on the cross to pay the price we couldn't pay. Because we will forever mess up and need his forgiveness, which He is ever faithful to provide. This Easter, will you let the holiday pass you by, without feeling a deep tug there is something better than just this world. The decision doesn't result in a world of rules and regulations to follow, it is the deepest love you will ever feel and a relationship that will last this lifetime and into eternity.
Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Love, Kate
