I'm weary of saying No to my children. Not just the everyday No's. Don't hit your brother and No, you cannot have 5 pieces of candy. I am weary of the No I am continually saying to our culture. The world is bound and determined to take away my children's innocence. They want my children to grow up way too fast. They want my little girl to dress like an adult. They want my little boy to know things he is way too young to know. I'm weary of saying you can't go to that movie, because it is not appropriate for your age. No, you can't wear what everyone else is wearing, because it is not appropriate. The straw that finally broke the camel's back was when my son walked in while I was watching the news. He asked me, "Mommy is it true that men can marry men and women can marry women?" "Mom, if two women marry can they have a baby?" My son is 6. I don't want to be discussing sexuality with him much less homosexuality. So, I told him that no men can't marry men and women can't marry women (for now anyway) and that women with women cannot have a baby. (Don't get me started on explaining how they can). I should not be having these discussions with my children, but I'm being forced too. What happened to childhood innocence?
As I was thinking about my weariness I remembered the song and verse in the Bible about Standing in the Gap. I also realized that God cares more for my children than I do. He is there to guide me and support my weariness. He knows there is sin in the world. God wants me to rest in him and seek his guidance in these difficult times. He wants me to say No and set moral limits based on Biblical standards that differ widely from the world. He expects me to raise children who respect God and obey his commands.
The problem with being weary is it is so easy to give in. I have been there and I would guess you have to. Oh, okay you can see that movie or maybe you can wear that shirt. You know "Everybody else does." Please hear me clearly there is a big difference between raising naive children and innocent children. I just want my children to grow up in a reasonable time frame. I want them to know what is appropriate for their age.
So, fellow Mom I ask that we stand together. That we stand in the gap for our children. That we constantly seek God's guidance and protection for our children. We can grow weary, but we can't give up. Our children need us to show them the way. They need to see living up to God's standards is very different than the world's.
? 2004 Kimberly Chastain
About the Author
Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping Christian women make the most of their lives. She is the author of the on-line course, "I Can't Say No" and Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working Moms, a free e-book. If you suffer from "I Can't Say 'No" Syndrome, visit Kimberly's site today for the details on an exciting email course that's sure to set you free! http://www.christianworkingmom.com/online.htm.
The Text Information Box above MUST be included for reprint privileges. You may reprint this article in it's entirety with the attached text box.
Last Friday night, I met a Christian at a prayer... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
"I resolve to speak ill of no man?and proper occasions... Read More
The teacher of the future.... will be a master of... Read More
Do you spend your time working towards that "one day... Read More
I am not saying this because I am in need,... Read More
Woodstock, the watershed event for a generation, had a far... Read More
Several years ago after I presented a workshop entitled "Spirituality... Read More
If you have a longing to connect with something higher,... Read More
There's a lot of talk about angels these days. They're... Read More
Love...it's a deep emotion. Sometimes we say it in jest... Read More
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line... Read More
Have you ever wondered which Angel governs your sign? And... Read More
Unless God has changed the way he does things it... Read More
Some of my greatest teachers have taught me that faith... Read More
For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you... Read More
The deeper beauty of spring is its process. In winter's... Read More
"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as... Read More
Whadda ya know?Seriously. With absolute certainty, what do you know?... Read More
Symbols and symbolism are popular in almost every civilisation, culture... Read More
A year ago, a beautiful woman came to see me.... Read More
"All you who are thirsty, come and drink." ISAIAH 55:1,... Read More
No one appreciates mothers enough. In this life, that's a... Read More
THE KABBALAH OF PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION: TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT"In the... Read More
I have a confession.I used to have doubts about God's... Read More
spotless home service Des Plaines ...Of the many individuals who were touched through the ministry... Read More
We shamans are a strange breed.....often we tend to isolate... Read More
The words 'new age' and 'spirituality' can have people running... Read More
Several years ago after I presented a workshop entitled "Spirituality... Read More
As soon as he saw me I saw him. It... Read More
Mormons like to give testimonies. Unlike Mormon testimonies, I will... Read More
Although spring is just around the corner, there have been... Read More
During my childhood days, I disliked Lenten season because radio... Read More
It is so obvious that God works and thinks on... Read More
Some people go to physics and spiritual readers for advice... Read More
Celebrities and common people all over the world are known... Read More
"They're crazy!" That's what they're saying about us. The majority... Read More
1. Raphael means "God heals." Raphael heals physical, emotional and... Read More
I very often see rants, complaints, wishes and dreams that... Read More
Sometimes we're already free but we don't realize it. We... Read More
Realisation and repeated memorization of the true knowledge is the... Read More
As Mother's day is upon us, Iam moved to express... Read More
Since the beginning of time mankind has pondered, who God... Read More
Let Your Family and Friends Know That You Are A... Read More
The bible tells a story about four men who sat... Read More
The formula for spiritual growth is given briefly in 2... Read More
The Mind in an Advanced Thought System:The center of our... Read More
Perhaps one of the most wonderful assertions that can be... Read More
Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
So I met a friend recently and we went to... Read More
Spirituality |