“Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]” Colossians 3:21 -> me: I fear that I have been too hard lined on the rails of life my kids must follow. I feel that the Lord is telling me to let-go-and-let-Him. I would be mortified if Bella, Sophie, or Prim felt discouraged or dispirited. My job is to live out the gospel to my children: that is, to assure them that they are loved and accepted and valued for who they are, not for who they ought to be, should have been, or might (if only they would try a little harder) become. Obedience must never be construed as a condition of my love. When I am obedient to acts of genuine love towards my kids, their obedience may become like that of a follower of Jesus to God -> a glad and loving response.
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