More from Isaiah

This morning has been quite eventful . . .

Caleb found my exercise ball and had the plug pulled out and water everywhere before I could stop him.

While Caleb was napping Kendrick was "helping" me make sugar cookies and we ended up with flour all over each other and Camden. (Camden looked like an old man with gray hair) This resulted in Camden getting a bath, which actually went quite well because I did not get peed or pooped on. :)

Kendrick decided to "color" on the oven with his snot, and while I was cleaning it up he tried to lick it. I am certain he learned this from his father, not me. Or, maybe it was one of his uncles?

I truly love the variety these boys bring to my day. They make me laugh with their antics, and I praise God for them.

On a more serious note - tantrums and disobedience have been abounding here in our home. I felt like God did (though on a lesser level I am certain) in Isaiah 65:2-3 -

"I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts. A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face."

On Sunday morning I was discussing tantrums with a friend in the nursery, and she shared some godly wisdom with me. She shared with me the importance of true forgiveness. For example, after I've administered discipline, and if my children are repentant, the issue is done. I need to be God-like in my response to their repentance - Psalm 103:11-12 - "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

So often I sin in response to continued disobedience because even though we've been resolving issues all day, I hold an account in my heart. I keep a tally - I've already spanked you X amount of times today, you should be obeying by now. If I am truly living in the Spirit and attempting to imitate Christ in this, I will not keep account after I've already forgiven my son.

The other aspect of this is to remember that my children will never come close to sinning against me as much as I have sinned against God. I don't want to be like the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 who didn't have compassion on his fellow servant. "Each of you, from your heart, forgive your brother his trespasses." May God enable me to forgive my children from my heart on a daily basis.