I had a thought I felt like discussing.
Between this next month's church newsletter on marriage and family, and our small groups going through several studies on the book of Exodus, my brain's been on overdrive. I was reading back through the beginning of Exodus and this verse struck me:
The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering."
- Exodus 3:7
So I read that verse and thought through the rest of the book of Exodus, and how God did something in response to their cries. And just as He did for the Isrealites, he does for us today: God hears our cries...he knows we suffer and are in trials...he understands, he listens and he responds.
As an adult I understand this concept...I cry out to my Father, and I know He will respond, and I'm okay with whatever His will is for me.
Trying to help my children understand this concept...now, that's a different story...
When the kids were babies, it was pretty easy to respond to their cries. Generally they were hungry, tired, overstimulated, or had a diaper disaster. As a parent, you hear the cry and you respond.
My children are getting older; no longer babies, and their cries have changed. Their cries now are over hurt feelings, frustration, bumped knees and fear. Lately, they have both been struggling with nightmares.
Last night they both awoke (at separate times) upset and afraid of bugs crawling all over them. My husband rushed to their beds in the middle of the night ( I was knee deep in dream land ), comforted both kids and helped them get back to sleep.
This morning, my son woke up irritated and afraid. He was still struggling with his dreams last night. I went upstairs, helped him out of bed, reassured him there were no bugs in his room, helped him find clothes and then escorted him to the bathroom.
Somewhere in the shuffle he said, "I don't understand. We prayed last night for God to keep the bad dreams away...how come He didn't?"
I said, "I don't know why you had bad dreams buddy. Let's look at it a different way: even though you had a bad dream when you prayed you wouldn't...your daddy came up and sat with you, your bed and room are warm and safe, and I'm here to talk with you about it this morning. Last night didn't go the way you wanted, but you're still blessed buddy." And with that he seemed moderately satisfied and went off to scrub the morning sleepies off his teeth.
Now, as I am up and conscious, I'm thinking about last night's events in their entirety... a warm shower and a cup of coffee are helping with the clarity too.
So...here's what I'm thinking about: God hears MY cries as his child; I cry out and I know God is responding (sometimes his response is silence), but helping my children understand how God chooses to work, means I have to be even more intentional in how I respond to my children. It isn't just about nightmares, and preventing bad things from happening...it's looking through the bad things and intentionally responding in a way that they can see God at work.
My children have heard of Jesus and of the holy power and goodness of God their entire lives. But as they sit in their beds at night...scared of what could be lurking in their closet, they cry out to God and are frustrated that God isn't keeping their little minds safe.
And I guess that's where mom and dad really come into play. I know that God is sitting at their side, hearing them cry, but it's daddy who rescues them.
I think that's the most overwhelming thing in this whole thought. They are crying out to their Heavenly Father as their daddy comes to the rescue; and they aren't putting the two concepts together.
I think that's the discussion that comes next with the kids. While they are scared and not understanding how God is working, they need to understand that He is at work...through us...their parents.
It's our job to show them how God listens and responds.
I pray I have the words to help them...and as I pray I know God will hear me...so Lord, let me hear my children.
How about you? Any thoughts?
H :)
P.S. Stay tuned for more good stuff on marriage and parenting from our newsletter next week!
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