My daughter recently has had to be on antibiotics. She had to take them 3x’s a day. That would mean taking a pill at school. Luckily in her 5 years in school, we have never had to take medicine. Little did I know about the hoops you have to jump through to allow your child to take medicine while at school.
Well I sent her off with the pill and a little note. I quickly realized that was not the protocol. I received an email and a call from the nurse stating the proper procedure for taking medicines at school. Sheesh. Let’s just say it’s a lengthy process.
In the process of filling out and dealing with the forms, a thought popped in my head- Why not just send the pill with her in her lunch and she can take it without anyone knowing it? Forget all these forms, right!! Before the thought even left my brain I was convicted. That would be dishonest! I would be asking this child that I’m trying to plant character and conviction into to LIE! Yikes! In that moment I was willing to trade CHARACTER for CONVENIENCE.
I love how parenting reveals the sinful caverns in our hearts. I saw mine that day.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young person keep his life pure? [He can do it] by holding on to your word. The Amplified version says “conforming his life to it.”
His Word, I must conform my life to it. Everything must line up with his Word; my thoughts, words, actions, motives, everything. Even when it’s not convenient. How can I hold a standard up to my child that I myself do not live by. Telling them one thing and yet I do another. I want my mom motto to be “do as I say, AND as I do.” A lofty standard for sure.
Found an article on building character in your kids. It said, “Building Christian character is activity motivated by a desire to pursue holiness, and to be conformed to God’s standards. It chooses the smile of the immortal God over the smiles of mortals, and works to win that smile.”
I’m asking my kids to “pursue holiness.” To pursue “the smile of God.” I love that.
Knowing there will be failures and grace along the way, but a pursuit nonetheless. I want to pursue holiness, but it’s those little things that stump us. Those “little white lies” that jeopardize our example to our kids. I almost blew it, and thankfully that time, conviction came before I followed through with my plan. A straight and narrow path. A path that stretches and challenges me. Holiness.
Easton’s bible dictionary says this about it. “Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance.” Pursue it, run after it. It is the standard!
Psalm 119:9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.
