Incredible opportunity!

(photo credit: sodahead.com)

Lord, I just want to thank you SO very much for the opportunity you provided me yesterday with my boys to SHOW them in black & white just what YOU say about things!!

{history sidebar} - the boys got in YET ANOTHER quibbling argument about the XBox. My younger one called his brother a "jack-A" (he won't say the actual word, but the implied word is just as bad). When I punished them both, one of them said, "Oh my God!", while the other said, "Jesus Christ, Mom!" I wanted to hit the roof, but God kept me calm. This type of thing has happened several times in our home, with the usual response when I chastise them, being, "Well, Dad lets us say that" (yeah, SHOCKER there!). Then I proceed to tell them that it is completely unacceptable in our home & I won't tolerate it. {sidebar over}

Ok, so THIS time, God put the Scriptures right in my heart & I took EACH one of them individually & I showed them in the Bible in Eph. 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up..." and then in Exodus 20:7 "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." Then I pointed out that "hmmm, that one's the 3rd commandment...it even comes above 'You shall not murder, cheat, steal, or lie' (had to keep it simple enough that they got the point)."

Well....talk about contrite, convicted hearts!!!!! My oldest was scared to death he was going straight to hell, and my younger one was on the verge of tears. So, I explained to them that everything would be fine as long as they went to God with honest, open hearts & said they were truly sorry & would do everything they could not to let it happen again. And that God is not someone who holds grudges, but forgives willingly & easily....and then the best part is....He wipes the slate clean, and doesn't hold it against us (unless we continually do it over & over without really meaning our repentance in our hearts)!

Next thing I know, I could hear both of them on their beds talking to God about how wrong they were & how sorry they were.

I gotta tell ya, folks...I was higher than a kite! What an absolutely glorious feeling to truly reach your children for Christ & have one of those lightbulb/a-ha moments where it's not something they just hear about, but that they truly experienced!!! Thank you, Father, for such a moment as this!