Little Cherubs

We have three little grandnephews. They range in age from 3 - 10. To say they are a handful doesn’t quite do the description justice.

 

It seems that they are constantly interrupting whatever is going on when they want something. For example, one night, I was taking cooked chicken off the bone while my wife was cooking on the stove and the oldest came in and wanted to call our niece. It should have been obvious to anyone who can see (and was not squirting blood out of some gash), that we were doing something that would be difficult to interrupt. All I could do was ask him, in as calm of a voice as possible, if he noticed that we were doing something that was not conducive in meeting his request (I don’t remember if he asked, please or not but that is something else we’ve been trying to reinforce with all of them).

 

To put icing on the mental picture, I took them to school and preschool one morning and when I got home, the first thing I said was “oh, this is what a quiet house sounds like.” To be fair, for the most part, they have been good boys and I need to remind myself that their normal routine is messed up when they had to stay with us for an unplanned couple of days.

 

But, back to the cooking example above, I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs “grow up! You need to be considerate of others and not just what you want in the moment!” But then it hit me, I want to do things like that all the time…I have to hold myself back (as much as possible) from interrupting others or waiting my turn when I want something.  Sometimes it is all I can do to not yell “I need this now (like they do!)”  Being polite, being patient, taking turns, sharing are all things that it is not in my nature to do. My sinful nature, without my effort and God’s help, would ruin every interpersonal relationship I’ve ever had.

 

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” - James 1:2-8 ESV

 

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” - Proverbs 17:27-28

 

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” - Titus 3:1-7

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” - Galatians 5:22-24  

The honor of watching them is, first of all, helping them mature and, secondly, reminding myself of those things I need to guard against in my own relationships with others.

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The Heart of a Child