Because He Gives Us Our Peace

DS1 has done something against all our instruction and teaching. He is 20 and still lives at home so while I don't have total control over what he says and does I do have some control over what we allow because we are still providing his basic needs.

Food & Shelter.

After some suspicion we confronted him and he confirmed our thoughts. Thankful he didn't lie. But we had to at that moment give him an ultimatum of not doing it again or moving out of our home.

We have 2 other children we need to raise and protect. His corruption can not interfere with our mission of raising them. His choices can't bring down the family unit.

Grace.

Our suspicious peaked again one month later and we confronted him again. He confirmed our suspicions. Thankful he didn't lie.

Dear Lord what do we do? We told him we would be kicking him out if he did it again. To sit in front of his dad asking him not to kick him out is like asking his dad to go back on his word. It was an intense struggle of what to do. Filled with pain, hurt and distrust.

You see DS1 is a "good" guy. He has a personality that won't quit with a smile that goes on for miles and miles. He struggles with loving himself. He struggle with knowing the love of Christ has for him, He doesn't understand that God has BIG plans for him if he would just seek Him with all his heart.

How often have I done the very same thing. How often do I not live up to my full potential in Christ? If I'm completely honest it is OFTEN. Grant it my disobedience isn't law breaking in legal terms but my disobedience is breaking God's laws.

Grace.

What do we do? I would probably rather take the easy road of burying my head under a pillow and just hope it corrects it self. Because I don't want to kick my son out.

He is not ready or capable of providing for himself. I'm afraid if we kick him out the only places who would take him are the places he finds these "forbidden things". So after much prayer we decided to keep him but with much more restriction. All at his expense. There will now be rent. Doing his own laundry. Buying his own snacks and drinks. He is welcome to gussy up to the table at dinner time and enjoy a meal with the family if he so chooses.

This is a really difficult stage in life. It's a bit more difficult because we also have a very "emotional" 16yr old on top of this battle. Everyone warns you of the "terrible twos" and the "teens" but I don't recall hearing any major warnings of the "young adult".

If you are reading this- Let this serve as a warning of the days to come.

It is rough waters but there is enough grace and peace from our Lord to get you through. God is going before us and preparing the way. We only need to rest in His faithfulness.

Just like the story of the disciples panicking in the boat during the storm while Jesus slept. They didn't understand how He, Jesus, could sleep during a time they needed the most help. But the thing is Jesus did not fear. He was the power of the One who calms the waves and makes them roar. Jesus was demonstrating that we do not have to fear.

Ever.

No matter what the circumstances are around us. He is always in control. With grace, mercy, and perfect knowledge.

He Cares About Every Detail

DS2 had some issues this week that needed to be addressed.

It consisted of disrespect, foul language, more disrespect and a sour attitude during correction.

So, we revoked his cellphone privileges and time with his girlfriend.Cell phones are a privilege not a right.

This was on Tuesday.

The following Sunday's sermon just happen to be an exact replica of what we were dealing with. Acts 20:7-12 about Eutychus the young man seated in the window who feel asleep during a service Paul was preaching and fell out the window and died... (he had been laying down in SS and covering his head)

Anyhow, we all just sat there with our jaws on the floor. Getting in the car to go home DS2 says "how about that sermon today".. HAHA It was just glorious confirmation (after a very hard long week) that God is a part of every detail and cares what's going on in our lives.

You see going to church doesn't make you a Christian. It does allow us to shut the world down for a couple of hours so God can speak to us VERY CLEARLY when otherwise he wouldn't be able to because of all the distractions around us.

Just when I think we are battling through this thing called parenting alone, I am reminded that I am not alone. There is One much more powerful than I who loves my children even more than I can. He wants them to know Him just as much as I do.

Even more than I do.

So just when you think you're alone in this task... remember you're not.