Our kids playing!
Do your kids argue and fuss? We have good kids, but it seems like we are always playing referee!
The boys are always wanting to rough house and wrestle. The oldest is constantly manipulating the younger ones to get what he wants. Brooke is the only girl, but she can stand her ground right with the boys. They seem to always fight over our attention, a toy, or what we are going to do.
The other night we were running at the church building and the kids were actually playing well together. Often times our runs are interrupted correcting their behavior, after they have been in an argument. But tonight it was different, they were all playing well together. They were having such fun. Even the 2 year old Caleb was having a blast. They were all accommodating one another.
This prompted their mother, who deals with the fusing much more than myself, to make this remark.
“I get so much joy and happiness out of watching the kids play in harmony together, versus fighting and being mean to each other. I bet this is how God feels about us as His children!”
I have to agree with her. Consider yourself as a parent and the frustration and disappointment it causes you when your children don’t get along. Many adult siblings have caused their parents immeasurable amounts of grief and stress because of their conflict.
Now consider our heavenly Father. He desires that we be ONE!¹ That we have the same mind and dwell together in unity. He must be frustrated and disappointed at our bickering, religious division, jealousy, and backbiting.²
One of the most discouraging parts of our world today in living the Christian life is the division by those claiming to follow Christ. Churches with all different names teaching different doctrines populate our towns. This breaks the Father’s heart and violates the expressed prayer of our Savior as He approached Calvary.¹ Every local church also struggles with maintaining unity and peace. Which church doesn’t have brethren who aren’t speaking, or hold grudges going back years? Many congregations have had outright divisions that end in brethren going separate ways. Do we stop to consider how our actions make God feel?
No wonder the Psalmist said, “How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity.” ³
Let’s do our part to get along so our heavenly Father can have those good feelings as He watches us!
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¹ John 17
² 1 Corinthians 1
³ Psalm 133
See my post on What I Wish Everyone Knew about the Church of Christ to learn more about our desire for unity.
