Little Children

After nine years of teaching elementary school and one and a half years of being Carter's mommy, I have seen some common behaviors among children. They are ALL wired to serve themselves. No person has to teach them to whine, gripe, complain, display anger, lie, argue, or put others after themselves. This is an innate talent, for, as Romans 3:23 tells us,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Right now I am trying to teach Carter the simple habits of saying "please" and "thank you." We are trying to replace whining with "nice words" like "please." Since Carter is only 15 and 1/2 months old, this often sounds like "eessss" for please and "dank ew" for thank you. I work on the obedience of his little heart by telling him about his need to obey momma because it is God's will for him to do so. When he doesn't obey, he has sinned against me and God. Of course, he doesn't quite grasp this, but he is old enough to know he has sinned. Something went wrong, and he feels naughty. This doesn't curb all bad behavior, however. In fact, Carter has developed both a strong will and an extreme temper. When he is kept from getting his way, he curls his lip, shakes his little fists and sometimes even throws something or hits the wall. I certainly have my work cut out for me, but, as a human, I sympathize with his struggles of sin and know that he has to become a follower of God to be taught by the Holy Spirit to deny himself for God and others.
This takes me back to my first point. Early on in teaching, I often would ponder how silly and self destructive kids' behavior can be. I am trying to do what is best for them, and they would make it harder. If they would just stop being lazy, obey the rules, work hard on their schoolwork and treat others with love, the year would be a breeze. Imagine what God could think of us. We have 20, 30, 50, 60, 70 or more years to learn the to obey His will, and we still act silly, self-destructive and sinful. Imagine the patience He must have to lovingly repeat a "divine spanking" to his little child at age 73! Of course, I pray we all are being sanctified to the point of needing fewer and fewer of those reprimands, but, while we are encased in this flesh, we will always struggle. Next time you are in the place of disciplining a little child, remember how immature and ridiculous our own behavior must appear to a perfect, holy, all knowing God. Take time to repent and think about the grace and mercy God has bestowed upon His followers. Thank you, Abba!

Hebrews 12:7-11 "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as
sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not
disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate
children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who
disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we
submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us
for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good,
that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the
time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of
righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."