A Tale Of Two Families

One family consists of a husband and wife with one child.  The parents are morbidly obese.  The house is a mess.  They live on junk food.  The son gets up whenever he pleases and then watches television or plays video games all day.

The other family has three children.  The whole family gets up early, eats a healthy breakfast, and then works out.  The children all do their chores without being asked.  In fact, if they see something that needs to be done, they do it such as dusting or vacuuming.  Their home was very clean and tidy.  They are all in great shape.  They all work hard and eat very healthy.  In their free time, they are outside playing catch or basketball.

One family is training their child to be lazy and overweight, doing whatever he pleases.  The other family is training their children to work hard, stay in shape, and eat healthy.  They will grow up to be disciplined adults.

The wives change places.  The overweight mother tries to get the three children to "have more fun" so she takes the girls out to get fake nails.  The girls take them off soon afterwards since they are both volleyball players.  She wants to get them to stop doing so many chores.  The children enjoy doing their chores.  She is stunned.

The other mother starts getting the obese father and son to work out, eat healthy, and start helping around the home.  In one week, the father loses twelve pounds and is starting to feel better.

This Wife Swap show was clear that we have the power to train our children in the way they should go.  You can actually train your children to enjoy working, eating healthy, and staying in shape.  It is a gift you give them that will keep on giving all of their lives.

On the other hand, you can train them to be lazy, only eat junk food, be messy and disorganized, and not enjoy working.  They will suffer their entire lives for their lack of discipline unless they can learn to discipline themselves when they get much older but it is so much easier to learn discipline when one is young.

Take your role as parent seriously and raise productive, hard-working children.  Everyone benefits, especially the children.

Train up a child in the way he should go: 

and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 21:6

Many Wives' Misplaced Passion

When I wrote that most men don't realize what is happening when their wives are giving the passion they once had for them to their children, one man didn't agree.  He commented, "Guys do notice but they justify it away because they don't want to be perceived as selfish."  Then he linked a post he had written about it.

He wrote that many men just put up with it because their wives are such good moms.  This is so sad to me!!!  I was that wife.  I was a great mom, but a lousy wife.  Here are some more words he wrote about the thoughts of husbands losing the affections of their wives ~

I have been having a lot of conversations with guys lately and these talks often turn to marriage.  There seems to be a common theme to the marital relationships of many of the guys I talk to.  They are just gutting it out.  Doing what is right, yet not connecting with their wives.  Afraid to voice their dissatisfaction.  All the while, spinning their wheels trying to please their princess.

Despite trying to maintain the appearances of having it all together and weathering the storm,  these men are stewing internally.  It is hard for them to understand how they can be seemingly discarded and disrespected.  When asked what prohibits them from taking a stand and setting a bottom line of what is acceptable behavior between spouses, the response is fear. { Read the whole article HERE.}

Then he writes about the example mothers are setting for their sons and daughters by treating their fathers this way.  Remember, the best gift you can give your children is to deeply love and respect their father.  If you want to really be a great mother, love your children's father.  This is the true definition of being an amazing mother.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing 

and obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 18:22

To Spend And Be Spent

The Apostle Paul is a great example to all of us what it means to spend and be spent, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent." {II Corinthians 12:15}  He gave his life as a living sacrifice so others may know Christ and His power.

On this Labor day, let us thank the Lord for those who gave their lives for our freedom.  Let us especially praise and thank Him for Him who gave His life for our true freedom.  For true freedom from sin and condemnation comes from Christ alone.

The very least we can do to show our deep appreciation is to follow in Paul's footsteps, to spend our lives serving others and be spent ~ 

If you are a wife, spend and be spent loving and serving your husband even if he is not worthy, for your treasure will be great in heaven.

If you are a mother, spend and be spent raising and disciplining your children so when they are grown, they may walk in Truth.

If you are an employer or employee, spend and be spent working to the best of your ability praising God from whom all blessings flow.

We are all called to serve.  The greatest of all is the servant of all.  Even if we didn't serve in the military, we can serve right where God has placed us.  When you serve others, you are serving Christ so I encourage you, whatever your lot in life may be, to spend and be spent for others.  In this, there is great reward.

Accepting Their Lot In Life

Farmers have a much better picture on life than others. Sowing and reaping mean more to them.  Accepting life as it comes at you is easier for them.  They don't whine about deserving more rain or sunshine.  Life is what it is.  You deal with it...You cannot allow your children to whine about their lot in life.  It is absolutely necessary that we confront entitlement mentality head on.  The current media, school, and church atmosphere promotes the ideas of entitlement and victim-hood.  The earlier we fix this mentality, the better.  {Sarah's Daughter}

Parents need to be diligent to teach their children contentment at an early age.  Therefore, the most important thing is for the parents to not complain and model contentment. 

Our society is filled with complainers; children who grow up thinking they are owed good health, cars, cell phones, free health care, free everything without working hard for it.  They want to blame all of societies' woes on others instead of accepting responsibility for themselves.

It is even easy to blame your problems on your parents, your upbringing, your poor health, etc.  The list can go on and on.  However, we are commanded in Scripture over and over again to be thankful and rejoice. 

We must continually keep our eyes on things above and not on our circumstances.  Life here on earth will never be anywhere close to perfect.  It will be filled with trials.  The sooner you teach your children to handle tough times, the better their life will be for them and all those who live with them.

Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as you have:
for he has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5