What a Waste

I'm reading a book again. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say I am re-reading a book, because I read it several years ago when a friend gave it to me. It's an easy read as I recall, has some practical pointers in it, and is called "Juggling Life's Responsibilities" by Anne Elliott.

I've only read the first chapter, and I'm feeling conviction already, and for the very reason I picked the book back up in the first place--I just felt like I needed to get focused. That's what the first chapter is all about. On page 13, she says "Wouldn't it be a shame if your life got so busy. . .if you had so many balls in the air. . .that you reached the end of your life only to find it had been a waste? Even worse, what if you thought your life was a success, but God considered it a waste?"

Wow! That just makes a person think. To top it off, it relates to some of my Bible study last week, and to my last post.

I've not been focused recently in training my children. I've just been trying to keep all the 'juggling balls from hitting the ground' and I've seen some things that needed addressed but have either been lazy or let my priorities get skewed. We had a big reality check in the meeting of the church this morning (or at least Kiana did!), and I was reminded just where my focus is supposed to be--raising my children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

In my Bible study last week I read the story of Dinah's rape and the rapist's father trying to 'buy off' the family on his son's behalf (Genesis 34). A commentary I read said this father was counted among "fathers serving rather than ruling the passions of their sons." This got me to thinking about our responsibilities as parents to train the character and conscience of our children. Too many people in our society, certainly, have been allowed to serve their passions rather than being trained to rule them. Have you ever thought of the many examples in the Bible of parents not training their children according to God's plan?

Eli's house was judged because his sons were vile and 'he restrained them not' (I Samuel 3:13). Isaac and Rebekah showed favoritism between their sons which led to deception and fighting (Genesis 27), not to mention their son later showed favoritism among his sons which led to the favored son being sold into slavery by his brothers. King David had a son who raped one of his daughters and there is no record of him doing anything about it other than being furious (II Samuel 13), while another son rebelled against him and conspired to take over the kingdom. There are probably other examples--remind me, if you think of them.

In contrast, however, God said of Abraham "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment" (Genesis 18:19). God also says the purpose of marriage, making man and woman one, is "because he was seeking godly offspring" (Malachi 2:15).

So I am reminded, as a mother, what my focus is supposed to be. It's so easy for "the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things" to "come in and choke" (Mark 4:19) my focus, my main priority, my God-given mission. So, I am thankful for this reminder and will try to re-set my priorities. Seeing the eternal consequences of not restraining my children and allowing them to serve their passions would be the biggest waste and heartbreak I could ever imagine. Be an iron-sharpening-iron-friend (Proverbs 27:17), will you, when you see my focus blurring again?