As a parent, I find myself using a wide variety of events as object lessons for my children. Take the huge container of cheese puffs for instance. They were a wonderful way to illustrate Proverbs 25:16 to my son: If you find honey, (or cheese puffs) eat just what you need, (although does anyone really need cheese puffs?) lest you have too much and vomit it up, (all over the bathroom!) Needless to say this particular son is much more moderate in his consumption of treats!
As inconvenient, or messy as these lessons are for me, I am so grateful that my children are learning some of them while they are still at home. I do find myself asking God for strength and patience on a regular basis though.
Even though (hopefully) most of us learned some of the basic lessons while young: moderation, don’t steal, tell the truth, be kind; none of us is perfect and life is an ongoing learning process. I am so glad that God is a loving Father who doesn’t just leave us on our own to struggle and try to figure things out. He gave us an instruction manual full of guidance and wisdom.
In the Bible we meet all kinds of imperfect people going through God’s object lessons. Just as sometimes I want to force my children to make the right decision, sometimes I want to yell to someone in the Bible, “Stop! This is going to end badly!” However, God never allows the bad ending to be the true end, His perfect story always continues.
I am so thankful that this is still the case today. I have definitely not always made the wisest choices, but God in His mercy has still used them all for good, not that I have seen all the outcomes yet, but I am believing His promise. Knowing how my Heavenly Father has so lovingly and gently parented me helps me to have more grace for my own children, even after too many cheese puffs!
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
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