I remember playing Tetris so much one Summer in HIgh School that every time I closed my eyes I saw the gameboy screen with little shapes falling into place, as the theme song beat away at my brain. When I began facebooking it was similar; every cute thing my children said became a possible status update, every foiled plan a snide remark that would most assuredly bring a long line of witty comments in return.  

Now my mind jumps on possible blog ideas all day every day.  I have a list of titles a mile long, since I have more ideas than I have time to write -  more inspiration than childless hours.  But this morning the blog jumped out at me with such sweet clarity I had to work some computer time into my day.  

I came downstairs this morning to find my husband sitting on the couch with the Bible open in his hands, and our youngest cuddled up against his bare chest.   

Our seven year old has spent many such sweet moments at his Father's side, and our five year old as well, but this was the first time I caught our littlest man soaking up the sound of His Father's Voice all by himself.  Of course I'd love to say the boys are soaking up the Living Water that is the very Word of God, but I know that at this age what they are lapping up is the joy of their Earthly Father's Nearness and the familiar sound of His Voice.

Ironically what Matt was reading, even before his Son crawled up into his lap, was the parable of the seeds and the sower (Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23).  It is my belief that the greatest part of our job as parents is to sow seeds into their young lives that will grow up to yield a harvest of eternal life:  Faith which leads to Salvation.  We read the Word aloud to our three guys, ever prayerful that the seeds go down deep into the soil of their lives.

But imparting Faith is so much more than simply reading the Bible together.  We impart faith by loving them as Christ has loved them, forgiving them as Christ has forgiven them, and showing them what a life following Jesus looks like.  Part of following Him, they are learning, is seeking him in the World.   

One of my main take-aways from Christ's parable of the seeds, is to be praying for their soil as well. Some soil is rocky, choking out the young plants before they can bare fruit, and other soil is too sandy or shallow for seeds to take root at all, and so I pray for the soil of my children's hearts.  I pray it is soft, responsive, and healthy soil that takes in the seeds we plant and water.  But I know, beyond any doubt, that it is always the job of the sun to make plants grow, and always the job of the Son to yeild the harvest in the lives of our children.

The Parable of the Sower  (Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23)

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

Our first born miracle is about to enter second grade in one month's time.  He is strong, confident, bright, and energized by being around others.  School is wonderful for a boy like mine.  However, he also struggles to listen, obey, and honor his elders and his peers.  His dad and I have noticed these character traits taking root in his heart these last couple of years and have tried to train him to honor others, not interrupt, and be a better listener than a talker, but the lessons are not working. And we are growing weary by the sound of our own voices constantly correcting him. 

What to do?  

First of all, we have recognized that the long term consequences our son will reap, if he continues to be pushy and dishonoring towards others, will be very painful for him.  He will not be likable, he will not be liked, and he will therefore not have the power to influence others for good.  And there is much good that his young heart already perceives.   And that breaks our hearts.  Second to this realization is our conclusion that we need to be better disciplinarians.  

I've always loved the verse, "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."  (Proverbs 22:6)  I love that we're instructed to train them up, not discipline them up.  But here's the hard truth for those who have been gifted strong willed children, once they've been trained, discipline may be required to truly learn the lesson.  That is where we find ourselves now.  And so when we are playing cards with our strong-willed boy and he begins pushing and pushing for more and more games, we encourage him to be content and thankful for the five rounds of Uno he already got with us.  If he throws even the slightest fit, up he goes to his room.  When we are out for dinner and he grumps over getting a small milkshake rather than a man-sized portion, he will be choosing to have none at all.  When I put him to bed with books and cuddles but he gets upset when I leave because he wasn't told a story or given a backrub, he will tuck himself in the next night.  

I am tired of the constant fights, it is true, but even more true is that I love him and can see where this will take him.  It will take him to a place of loneliness, discontentment, and sadness.  O, I love him too much to send him there because I was too afraid to be a disciplinarian.

Last night as I tucked him into bed he asked why his dad and I were being so mean to him.  I answered his question with this question, "Son, what would you do if you were a dad and found out your son had stolen something?"  

He answered quickly, "I'd spank him."  

So I went on, "What if he did it again?"  

"I'd spank him again,"  my boy responded rather matter-of-fact.

"Why?" I had to ask.

"Because if he doesn't learn to stop stealing he's going to end up in jail."  

"That's exactly right," I said, "and you are going to love your son too much to let that happen... and so you will discipline him... just as we are disciplining you."

It is our prayer for our three, that even though discipline is not pleasant, that it would produce a harvest of righteousness and peace in their lives.  

Love covers a multitude of sins... so very, very true!  But love isn't just about giving and giving and baking and singing good night songs.  Love is hard sometimes; in this case love is very hard for me.  But I have no other choice.  For in this case, this is the type of love that will cover a multitude of sins and reap a harvest in future years.