"indulged in the outrageous practice of "passing his sons through the fire," a truly abominable thing he picked up from the pagans God had earlier thrown out of the country. (28:3)
When picturing the practice of "passing his sons through the fire," as recorded in the verses ABBA gave me today, my heart is sickened when thinking about how so many parents toss their gift of children to the world. There are many recordings in Scripture of how far away from ABBA people became and the things they did to their children. Some practices would place the live babies into the walls they were building as sacrifices. There were times when children were eaten. beaten. sold. put into sex trafficking. aborted.
Acts done then. Acts done today.
And I wonder, how do you come to such a place.
When you take such a precious gift from our ABBA. Made in His image.
And toss that child over to the world.
It happens when we walk away and are totally focused on "self" and not our ABBA.
So many children throughout time have not been treated as the beautiful blessing they are from our ABBA. They have not been trained up "in" ABBA, nurtured, protected, cherished, treasured, loved in the family He designed. In many streets, of any country, you will walk and see children on their own. Resorting to any means to survive. Being taken advantage by those who are stronger, many without any way to escape. Children who are "being passed through the fires of worldly desires".
Being a parent isn't about being a buddy or living life for "self". It is about sacrifice. It is about putting another's needs above your own - even when there aren't instant "rewards" or "gratitude". There are so many moments when you feel you aren't measuring up, want to throw in the towel, crying out for "Calgon to take me away", but you don't. The fruits of good parenting are so worth the tough love you put into raising your children.
It can leave your mind spinning with all the instructions on raising kids today.
His Word - it is tried and True.
Time after time He gives us accounts on how He parents us.
How He loves us unconditionally, even when we are unlovely. Even unlovable.
I know I have fallen short of His example many times over, but thankfully our children, when I have said I am sorry and asked for forgiveness, granted it to me. I know there are times when I have looked upon our children and felt anger, dislike at their actions, hurt, and rejected, but never have I stopped loving them unconditionally.
From ABBA we know first hand unconditional Love, extended grace and mercy and need to grow in our desire to pass it onto the children, as well as the adults.
I also know He is bigger than all our numerous mistakes - past, present, future, which helps as we pick up and begin again, after yet another "fail" moment.
His Word has taught me there is a difference between being a mother and a "mommy".
It is only because of Him am I able to experience the blessings, joys and fruits of this privileged and honored role of "mommy" I have been given. Not only for our own biological children, but also of the many other "kids" He has put into our lives. I pray we are causing a ripple of His Love, which will continue to be passed down throughout all the generations of His children.
How empty our world would be without them. To not look at and delight in seeing things through their eyes. Hearing their voices. Feeling their arms about you, their little hand grasping yours. Their big eyes taking in and loving you. Our gifts of treasure from Him are all of the children He has placed in our lives. And hearts.
No comments:
Post a Comment