30
Aug
2010
Give Your Kids a Love That Does the Difficult Things
For those of you who have been waiting for this day – it’s finally here! 50 Ways to Really Love your Kids is back in print…and better than ever! Here’s one of my favorite vignettes from the book… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Give your Kids a Love that Does the Difficult Things
by Tim Kimmel A young father struggling with his marriage said this to me: “I’m not into changing diapers. I’ll play with the kid, read to him, keep an eye on him, but if he needs his diapers changed, count me out. I’m sorry, but I don’t do diapers.” I could see why his marriage was in trouble. Everybody has something they don’t like to do. It might be cleaning house, folding clothes, driving car pool, waiting at practices, or going to church. So we don’t clean it, fold it, drive it, wait at it, or go to it. The problem goes even deeper. We’re terrified of speaking in public, so we remain silent at a PTA meeting while a misguided parent drives some godless agenda down the throats of the school administration. We’re afraid of rejection and reprisal so we remain mute while one of our children maintains a self–destructive habit. Or we’re afraid we might end up looking like a fool so we refuse to follow a clear leading of God in a particular matter with our kids. Here’s an observation I’ve made: the difference between the parents who achieve true greatness in their families is corollary to their willingness to do the things they don’t want to do. It’s like the marathon. The people who consistently finish are the ones who laced on their shoes during those long months of training and took off before dawn in the cold and rain while the rest of the world was hitting the snooze button. Jesus put it this way, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). So we might not like to do windows, diapers, math homework, or bedtime stories. But real love can’t afford to think, “What’s in it for me.” No, real love says “What’s in it for them.” It’s the difference between parenting and great parenting. I’m grateful that Moses didn’t say, “I don’t do Red Seas.” David didn’t say, “I don’t do giants.” Paul didn’t say, “I don’t do road trips.” John didn’t say, “I don’t do Revelations.” Mary didn’t say, “I don’t do virgin births.” And I’m most grateful that Jesus didn’t say, “I don’t do crosses.” See what I mean? Extracted from the book, Fifty Ways to Really Love Your Kids by Tim Kimmel. Get it HERE.