Childlike Trust? February 21, 2007
Posted by Joe in : Scripture Meditation , trackbackFirst a short note about the set-up for this blog. Erin and I have decided to make this blog something of an on-line conversation. This is what I do with Larry on the Seeking Him Blog (more or less) and I like the format. It gives us the opportunity to linger on a topic for a season if we wish. I think that will be helpful here. Of course, unlike Larry and I, Erin and I live in the same house and share our every detail of life together. We are joyfully one flesh. Yet I still think an on-line conversation can work. Maybe it can even work better actually, considering the fact that we can help one another with our various posts! With that be said….
Erin,
So I was thinking about your post from yesterday as I read through Exodus 4 this morning. As I mentioned to you before you made the post, I enjoyed your thoughts in relationship to parenting. But I definitely was surprised when I started to think about parenting this moring while reading Exodus 4! What is happening to me here? Oh, that’s right, we started a blog! It’s working already isn’t it? Lessons are being learned. Anyhow….
I was thinking about Moses and all his various doubts. I could easily get down on him until I remind myself of my own weakness and especially, the little exposure that Moses had to the glory of God. He had no face of Christ to look at. He had no New Covenant revelation which we so freely enjoy (and often take for granted). In that vein, it struck me that one of the reasons why Moses clearly had his doubts was because he hadn’t had ample opportunity to see the Lord in action. Of course, I think the primary reason he doubted was because he was too focused on himself and too little on the Lord, but that reason doesn’t negate what I just said. In fact, it might support it. For maybe the reason why he was so focused on himself is because he knew so little about the Lord. We have to remember that at this point in human history, the Lord had not yet revealed too much of His Person and glory. After all, He was soon to use Moses to do so!
That being said, I drifted to thoughts of parenthood and the way in which children, as they grow older, seem to lose their childlike trust. For Elijah, well, he can’t help but trust us (except when it is dinner time and you leave the room), but as Abby grows older, it’s as if the fall sets in and she begins to doubt all authority, just as our forebearers, Adam and Eve, did the Lord in the Garden. As it relates to us, she doubts that we are striving for her good and in fact, that we know better than she what her good really is. We tell her everyday that she needs to take a nap, but every day is still a fight. She really doesn’t trust that we know and want to do what is best for her. What is the deal?
Well, sin is the deal. That comes first of course. Our kids emerge (just as we did) from the womb foolish as can be! The parents who don’t see this must, in all honesty, be fools themselves, because it seems quite obvious. Kids aren’t simply ignorant, they are foolish and they will remain foolish and in fact, grow more foolish if we don’t help them see their need for the grace to change their foolishness.
That is all very true, yes, but there is still more I believe. As it relates to my thinking this morning, the more has to do with our children’s need to see more of us in consistent, trustworthy action. For just as Moses failed to trust that the Lord knew what was best for him because he had yet to see His trustworthiness, so too might it be that Abigail needs to see us prove ourselves wise and trustworthy? I think so. Though she has seen a good deal already (imperfectly of course!), we have to remember that she has a hard time consistently recalling what happened two days ago. And she doesn’t have the luxury of sitting herself down in quiet to reflect on our trustworthiness and love. Instead, she is always on the go.
That being said, I think it is a good lesson for us: we need to make it our aim to prove ourselves trustworthy day in and day out for the rest of our lives. And this is true not only to our children, but before our children. That is to say that they will take notice of all our interactions with each other and others and they will know whether or not we are really reliable and faithful people. They will know whether or not we are for real. And the older they grow, the more memories they will have of our being loving and wise and faithful. Then, say, when they are teenagers, they will actually come to us for advice! Yes, it really can happen folks!
One more thing: It struck me while writing this out how this really does parallel the way we relate to the Lord. Don’t we struggle with the same trust issues? The difficulties of today come and somehow we think that the Lord won’t come through. Though He has promised us mercies that are new every morning, we aren’t so sure. What is our deal? Well, sin of course. But the lesson I believe for us is that we must fight against this sinful tendency of unbelief by filling our hearts up with Bible truth—every single day. We need to be reminded each morning of the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God. For only then will we become the faithful and trustworthy and wise ourselves. Only as we behold His glory will we grow into His likeness and lead our children well.
Alright, that’s more than enough for now–as usual love. I suppose it is nice for you that I can get my ramblings out on this blog instead of in our living room to you each day! You are a good listener of course, but as a mother of two, I think this blog has more time to do so!
Seeking to be a trustworthy parent with you,
Joe
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