Prodigal children

Good morning beautiful people; I hope you all of you had a blessed thanksgiving. I sure did because my son is home from the Marines! I am so proud of him, and appreciate that God has chosen me for such a positive moment to experience. God has blessed me as a mother more than words can say. Anyone who has gotten to experience me with my children know that we are worthy of a reality show. My son Rashad is a complete cartoon character, and my daughter Autumn dresses like one. Many of you have witnessed on occasion the comical glances between Autumn and I; there is never a dull moment. 

In contrast, today I want to speak on feeling like we have failed as parents. Many of you express your pleasure with my children, and share concerns for your own. I need you to know that it will be more than likely your children God will use to advance the kingdom. What most of you didn't know is that I have an older daughter... Lisa. 

She was the most beautiful baby... I had her when I was very young. After my second look at her (My first look she was blue with a cone head, and I had no idea that's the way babies looked when they come out of your body.) I immediately loved her too much. I slept with her in my arms, gazed at her as she grew, and vowed I would never let anything hurt her. As a result, many of the life lessons she should have endured I blocked them. She never understood why and each time I intervened it caused resentment in her instead of gratefulness. 

FIT Family God sees the heart, and will do what it takes to mold our children so they can be instruments for Him. To us it may look like our children are experiencing undue trouble or have gone wayward, but what is really happening is God is taking them through a time of pruning. Why? A person who is or has experienced pain, loss, or struggle is the most powerful tool in the kingdom of God. But who would want to follow a person who appears to be failing… 

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong1 Corinthians 1 18:19 

God sees the heart, and will do what it takes to mold our children so they can become instruments for Him. Train them, the best of your ability, in the way of the kingdom and He will guide them to His desired result. We must have faith that he will… 

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 16 22:6 

Erroneously we believe we are responsible for the product they become. That’s not true… your children, as well as you, have free will to become whomever they choose to be, and do whatever they choose to do. Many of us have strained relationships with them because of their chosen paths and decisions. If they treat and speak to you in a respectful tone love them for who they are because even If your child is a drug dealer (schemer), feels the world owes them something and lack ambition (pity party), will never listen to a word you say, or worst a murderer they are in biblical company… 

Jacob was a schemer who stole his brother’s birthright and blessing. Genesis 25:29-34 & Genesis 27 12:19 David threw “Pity Parties” and ran from God’s destiny for himself (1 Samuel 27:1) until he put his focus back on God (1 Samuel 30:6) Peter was impulsive when he spoke saying he will never leave Jesus (Matthew 16:21-22;) we all know how that turned out. None of us will forget his debacle in the garden when he cut that guy’s ear off (John 18:26.) And the most famous of Apostles Saul who became Paul who was given approval of the murdering of Christians (Acts 8:1-3) Each of these men detestable in their own way… each became powerful men of God. 

I remember praying one day to God about my displeasure with my children and some of the choices they were making. Repeatedly I prayed the words “my children, my children, my children,” until one day God asked me the following: Who told you they were yours? I immediately flinched at the thought of it. God continued… “They are not yours I allowed them to go through you!” Oh my! Had I taken something as mine that was never intended for me? At that moment I realized the only thing that was mine was the assignment to love, care, and pray for them…nothing more. 

My daughter Lisa still resents me… we don’t talk or laugh like I do my other children. But I understand that she has to go through the pain of God molding her heart. She has, and is going through many battles that I care not to discuss. She is highly ambitious, but because it is too hard for her to listen… she experiences much heartache. Please pray for her as I pray for your children… I am excited for the men and women of God they will become. I sit in expectation of what God is doing in their lives; but it is okay to feel pain in our hearts… until or prodigal children return (Luke 15:11-32).

Until next time . . . SG