Who's the Mommy?

by Granny W. 2011


I am once again honored to have a devotional written by my grandmother. Be blessed and encouraged as you read her words of wisdom.

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Lately, as I observe some fathers or mothers interacting with their children, it seems the above Scripture is rarely applied. Many children are being given the opportunity to make decisions that should be reserved for parents. Frequently children are asked what they would like to do regarding naptime or a trip to the store. Does this scenario sound familiar?
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“I am going to the store now and you are going to stay home with daddy. Or would you rather go with mommy?”
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And once they arrive at the store, it might go something like this, “Would you like to ride in the cart or push your own?”
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Did I mention the child is three?

In this situation, in order to squelch the verbal abuse or screaming of the child, most moms and dads, out of embarrassment, give in to the child’s demands. This behavior is not reserved for the store. When you experience it in public, it is most likely happening in the home as well.

Can you imagine the pressure on a young child when they are asked to make choices regarding what is best for their health and well-being? Their minds are not fully developed to take on that responsibility. Should a child never have the opportunity to make decisions? Of course not! But the decisions should be age appropriate and not of a parental nature. That is why God gave you to your child.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”  Ephesians 6:1-4

Dads and moms are the first authority in a child’s life. How the child is trained to respond to that authority will pave the way for their future response to the authority of the Lord and to those outside the home.

“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” Colossians 3:20

What starts as a refusal to sit in a grocery cart could very well lead to the refusal to follow a law one day. That sounds extreme, but lack of respect for authority starts somewhere. The good news is that respect for authority starts somewhere as well. We are all creatures of habit; if a child is trained to respect the authority of their parents, they will do so even when they are outside of their parent's care and presence. Let respect for authority begin today in your home!

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly father, my prayer for the moms who are reading this devotional today is that You will give them Your wisdom to discern any problem areas they were not aware existed. Amen.

Challenge:
Summer is upon us and the extra burden of school and schedules has been lifted for a few months. Use this time to discover who the parents are in your home. If it is your children, ask your Heavenly father how you can lovingly reverse the situation. Then enjoy the blessings of watching your children go the way they should from childhood to adulthood.

Granny W. 2011