“Mom, I need a cell phone.”“
May I go with all the youth on the big outing next month?”
“Can I please have a friend over to spend the night?”
“Mommy, can I stay up a little late and watch the Olympics?”
The things children ask of their parents seems like it’s unending sometimes. There’s always a need or request waiting for an answer…at least that’s how it was here. What is a parent to do? How do you wisely answer all the requests?
I read in I Kings 3 yesterday about Solomon becoming king in his father, David’s place. This is the chapter where God comes to him in a dream and Solomon wisely asks for nothing but wisdom from God. Then God leaves Solomon with this statement:
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
God tells Solomon what else He will do for Him, but He wisely puts some restrictions on it. He said, “IF” you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commandments, THEN I will lengthen your days.” As I read that I was reminded of what a wise Heavenly Father we have! He doesn’t just dole out riches with no expectations from us, many times there is an if followed by a then – if not stated, it is implied. Consider this favorite promise “He shall direct thy paths.” But remember what precedes it? Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him… This is the if part. If we trust, lean not on ourselves and acknowledge Him, then He will direct our paths.
How wise it would be for earthly parents to do the same thing with the requests of our children. Pray about the qualifications for their request. Ask for wisdom to let it apply to the need of their life. For instance –
“Mommy, can I stay up a little late and watch the Olympics?”
“If you can get up promptly each morning without any complaining, then I’ll let you stay up and watch them but if there is an attitude of grumpiness the next day, then you will go to bed at your regular bedtime.”
God hears our requests, and we should listen to our children’s. Then later, if its decided that the answer is, “yes,” prayerfully give the if’s and then’s of your response. There’s a lot of wisdom in that, and the Creator of it was God. Isn’t He good?
How do you deal with the many requests from your children?
With love,
RefreshHer 