Called

Like most children in our culture, Jett started attending public school this year in the pre-K 4 year old class at a small school nearby.  Morgan still battles anxiety when he is out of her immediate supervision, after all, she has learned by tragic experience what can happen when he is even a few feet away, much less miles away. Even her eyes can not keep him safe, it is very hard to trust someone else's eyes. 

He shed a few tears in the beginning, most likely in response to his mother's anxiousness.  I think children pick up on that, just my opinion.  After he had been there a few days, he leaped out of the car bidding his mommy to have a good day, and off he went. 

Then the calls began. 

He pushed.
He hit.
He refused to...

Like most of us moms, Morgan had a full gamut of emotional responses to those calls.  She felt like she should 'fix' it somehow.  Sitting in the school office with the heads of the school, I would bet she felt like it was HER sitting in the principle's office having erred in some way.  Maybe not...but I would have. 

I remember going into similar tail spins with raising my boys.  Somewhere along the way, I learned to trust God with them.  Do not misunderstand, parents have responsibilities in teaching our children. We all know the verse, "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6 NASB)

 It isn't just a matter of teaching our kids the rules.  Even though it IS important to understand that God has a way that is right, there IS absolute truth, and it is HIM that decides. 

Teaching the rules is important.  And maybe some of us just say " Oh!  OK....if that's the rule, then I will abide by it and never question or break it."  Hummmphh!  If you're that person, you'd be the first since Jesus. 

I have been a rule keeper most of my life.  Not a perfect rule keeper, don't get the wrong idea.  But, my boundaries have always been pretty tight, and I did very little to push them. (....for whatever specific reason, but that's another story...)

I have some experience with raising a child that pushed boundaries. Every. Single. One. Had I a way to do it over, with all the knowledge I have, I am not sure anything would be different because it is who he is.  He is NOT me. 

Jett may have some qualities from his mother, but in general, he is not like her.  He is different, and even more so from the trauma his brain has been thru.  Pray that she will have wisdom beyond her years as she trains up this child in the way he should go, so that when he is old, he will remember and stay on the pathway he should be on.

It will not be a perfect path.  We all get off track.  The important thing is to face that truth and turn back to the right path.  It is called repentance.  Is is necessary and often helpful to be called on our veering off the right path. 

When Jett gets off the way he should go, Morgan or Matt often get a call.  The calls are not pleasant.

No more pleasant than the pricking of the Holy Spirit when you and I are called on our attitudes and behavior.  Even Paul the apostle was apt to be a hard discipline case. "...Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." (Acts 26:14 NASB) 

(A goad was something they hooked up to a team of work animals.  If the animals kicked against their harness, as they are prone to do, it was something that was positioned for their feet to hit and discouraged them from kicking.)

Our Father is so gracious with us, especially when we choose to be easily taught, easily corrected, easily reprimanded, easily disciplined.  He is perfect.  His love is perfect. 

We simply are not.  None of us.  Not Jett.  Not his parents.  Not the school faculty. 

May we all be as kind and patient as our Lord is.

THAT is called a very tall order.