Kind Sir, Do Not Encourage My Child toward Death
by Paul ~ July 13th, 2010. Filed under: Paul, Us.
I was at Seward Coop with Luke the other day. Luke LOVES the Coop, because they have kid-sized carts. Great store! All the employees are super friendly, especially toward kids! We do love it there.
Luke was walking around pushing his cart with some of our groceries in it. He was looking at some stuff and I told him not to grab it. We walked by an older gentleman who laughed and said “Oh look at that shopper. Just go ahead and grab whatever you want and put it in the cart.” Seemingly innocent right? But he just encouraged my child to directly disobey his father. He was in earshot of me just giving Luke instruction, then chose to contradict it.
We continued walking merrily around the store. Then Luke decided he wanted to go, so left his cart and ran off. I asked him to push his cart to the front registers and he decided to sit on the ground and yell instead. A woman next to him watched and laughed. Seemingly innocent right? But she’s encouraging my son to be disobedient and rebellious.
Disobeying your father is sin. Scripture is clear when it says “honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20:12, Eph. 6:2). The Bible tell us that rebellion is akin to practicing witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). In ancient Israel, dishonoring your parents was such an incredible offense that it was worthy of death (Ex. 21:17). That is because sin leads to death, as James tells us:
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)
Sin is not cute. Sin leads to death. Right now it may look cute on a child, but no one wants to see what happens when that child grows up. A rebellious child unchecked becomes a criminal, an abusive father, a cheating businessman, or simply a failure in life. And that rebellion leads to death, as it invokes sin in others and will lead to his own eternal death away from God. What starts small now will reap a harvest of death later, if not checked by discipline and correction.
So please, kind sir, do not encourage my child toward death!
July 24th, 2010 at 12:49 am
I especially like your ‘Kind Sir’ post. It’s amazing how good it feels to be convicted! When I hear something like this that is really convicting, I can’t help but think of all the times that I said something I shouldn’t have or didn’t say something when I should have!
The man obviously had no idea that a two-year old would not comprehend his humor. He was trying to be friendly, but blew-it and ended up looking like he was trying to undermine the authority of the child’s father, in-this-case-you.
I like the candid way that you speak. I can almost feel the pain of my mis-spoken words that I have said or “not said” as the case may be. All I can say is, Thank you! You speak to my heart!”
In contrast, I have a similar story, but it actually goes the other way.
This happened a couple years ago. I was in the lobby at the ice rink. A woman that I know was there with her two kids. There is a man that is a friend of my family and a friend of hers as well. I’ll call the guy “J”.
She told her kids, “Its time to get going. Get your things.” (The kids then are like ages 9 and 11.)
Well, the kids just kept on doing what they were doing. Never mind what their mom just said! The boy just kept playing with his lacrosse gear, and the girl had something she was doing (totally ignoring the mom).
“J” jumped right in! He said, “Didn’t your mother just say, get your things, we’re going Go on — Get your stuff so you can go!”
The kids jumped into action.
Was I impressed? You bet! Even further, if I ever need someone on my side, that’s the guy that I’d pick: A man that will stand-up for what is right, speak up for what is right, and will fight for what is right, no matter what it is. Hooray for “J”!
Shell (Paul’s mom)
July 24th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Thanks for the reply Mom!!
Your right, the guy was trying to be friendly. The thing I was pointing out is how many people think rebellion is “cute” for little kids. But sin is not cute.
What a good friend you have to be chiming in to support obedience! I try to do the same for other people’s kids. It takes a village!