2 Kings 16-19
"And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, hear the word of the Lord, Behold, the days come, that all that is thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?"
If taken out of context, verse 19 looks harmless. The word of the Lord is good, it is good to have peace and truth. However, the preceding verses consisted of Isaiah telling Hezekiah that everything in his house would be taken to Babylon and his children would be taken hostage where they would be treated harshly as eunuchs. So in its context, Hezekiah is saying my children and grandchildren can fend for themselves as long as I have a pleasant life. Hezekiah did have a good life, he served God for much of his time as king. But to hear that your children would bare the punishment for sins you have committed did not phase him. How true is that today.
Both Ben and I are transitional generations. Neither of us really learning God's word in our youth. I did learn of Salvation as a teenager from attending a youth group with a friend, and ended up truly trusting in Christ a few years later. Ben grew up going to church on Sunday, which I think is wonderful. It is more than I had. However, he explains it as an hour a week that was mostly a ritual. He would walk away from it with little understanding of God, his word, or how to apply it. And the rest of the week was living in the flesh. It wasn't until his early thirties that he trusted in Christ after hearing the Gospel. And together we are trying to learn and grow and break many of the chains of sin that have been passed down.
And so the question arrises "how can I instill into my children the values they need to navigate through this life?"
Whether you are a transitional generation or were raised up in a God-fearing home, raising children today is no easy task.
And it still applies, regardless of which kind of home you grew up in, that the sins of our parents can easily become our sins as well.
Let's ask ourselves these questions...
Are we having selfish faith? Do we truly want for our Children to do better than us? Are we giving them the spiritual upbringing they will need to honor God in their lives and relationships? Are we giving them the proper tools for life?
Do we have the courage to stand against the world and our own weaknesses?
Can we take hard stands even if it is so much easier to go with the flow?
Can we take stands against our families or friends?
Can "WE" press ourselves to grow in spirit and in truth for the sake of our children and every other generation to come?
For me, personally, it is easier in many ways to go against the world than it is to stop my own negative learned behaviors. With 5 children now and one of those treasures, our adopted son Judd who also has Down Syndrome. I am at times pushed and tested to uncomfortable levels. Sometimes the ways that I was taught to deal with hard situations won't help grow me or my children. And I find myself in a real quick pinch of "How am I going to deal, or not deal, with this situation?" The way that I am wanting to at that very moment or the way that I ought to, might be quite different.
A few weeks back I was having this conversation with my husband as I was struggling with discipline. He spoke some much needed truth to me. And I wish I could say that I have always applied it, but I can't. I am trying though and I am thankful for his words of wisdom. I have hidden them in my heart.
He told me to look at discipline as any other thing/area/action in my life, and to think of what might be pleasing to The Lord.
Know that He is watching you.
Are you reacting out of anger? Are you not reacting at all because it is easier? Are you teaching? Are you loving?
Are you honoring Christ in your parenting and discipline?
Is it your Goal?
When a sticky situation arrises think "How can I honor God through this!"
May sound simple... But can be easier said than done!
Good Luck and Happy Parenting!
I would like to thank Erin for asking me to write for this great segment. I am honored and humbled. Erin found out about our adoption plans and joined me in my Fit for February fundraiser in 2011. Since then she has been an incredible friend and source of support and encouragement to not only me but my family.
In honor of our little Judd man, whom is Gluten and Dairy Free, I'd like to share this recipe with you!
Coconut Milk Pancakes
2 eggs
2 tbl coconut oil
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/3 C. coconut milk
1 tsp sugar
1/8 th tsp salt
3 tbl sifted coconut flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
Blend together eggs, oil, vanilla, coconut milk, sugar and salt. Combine coconut flour with bk. powder and thoroughly mix into batter. Heat 1 tbl of coconut oil in skillet. Spoon batter onto hot skillet making pancakes about 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. Makes 8-10 pancakes.
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About the Author: Melanie Hartman blogs about her life on the farm and her family's rescue adoption over at Happy Hartman Farm. Her, her husband Ben, and their 5 children are just an average American (Military) family trying to serve Our Lord and Risen Savior, hoping not to live their lives in vain, with hearts that are burdened for the orphan crisis in this world.
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