I have noticed a trend lately with my children. They seem to be losing their ability to hear my voice (or increasing their ability to tune me out). Whether it is because they are reading (who knew I would one day be complaining about this) playing intently or carried away in their silly group imaginative games, I am having a hard time getting them to hear my requests.
It is not a hearing problem. It is a listening problem and it is incredibly frustrating!
I confess I went through a yelling period several months ago. I did not come from a family of yellers--and had never been a yeller in any other relationship in my life-so it was shocking to me. I did not enjoy volume and intense tone becoming my default mechanism for parenting. Truly, it felt like they would listen to me no other way.
After feeling like a terrible mother, carrying around a lot of guilt, praying about it and apologizing to my children, I have finally moved on from the 'yelling period.' I am trying now for much more immediate consequences of disobedience--calmly replying with a consequence and consistently standing by it. Life in our home has been much more peaceful!
Then Spring arrived--and birthdays are right around the corner--and school is getting out soon--and they are becoming more capable and independent by the day. Life for my almost 7 year olds is full and fun. My voice is dull, boring, seemingly ever present. They are tuning me out with greater regularity (and always when they are doing something else they would rather do that what my voice is requesting.)
Saturday I heard myself say, "Guys! You have GOT to learn to hear my voice. I am your mother. I am your authority. You have got to train your ears to HEAR me no matter what."
And it hit me. This is what God says to us in this busy world chock full of distractions and noise. TRAIN YOUR EARS TO HEAR ME. We must listen for his voice above the fray. It is for our protection and safety and ultimate good--and to do otherwise is disobedience, rebellion and sin.
As a Mama, I have to train my children to use their ears to listen for loving authority. As a child of God I must train my ears to do the same thing.
4 comments:
Beautiful example. Wise words.....
This is so true. I don't have children, but I know that I can easily tune God out when I'm too busy or just don't want to listen. Thanks for the reminder that I must train myself to listen!
Oh Jennifer...it's soooo nice to hear about their disobedience to your voice. I feel EXACTLY as you do...having done the yelling thing (which actually worked) to consequences, to sticker charts. I love your analogy but oh how I want something that works immediately. Ha! One day at a time teaching to listen and obey the first time. Being a Mama is so, SO wonderful and my voice can't be that bad right? :)
I have two sons who are 19 months apart in age, and they do the exact same thing! They are so caught up in their own games (or reading!), that they literally do not even register my voice. It's pretty powerful to think of it in terms of me listening to God . . .
Nancy
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