One of the morning jobs I
have in my house is to get the vitamins out for the kids. I set them on the counter so they can take
them when they eat breakfast. Now, I’ll
admit that the one chewable vitamin tastes what I imagine chewing on a piece of
sidewalk chalk would be like. My kids
don’t like that vitamin. My wife won’t
take it. I only eat it because it is
good for me, and I want the kids to eat theirs.
More days than not, it is almost bedtime, and those nasty tasting
vitamins, all three of them, are still on the counter providing their nutrients
for healthy living to absolutely nobody.
It kind of reminds me of sometimes how kids won’t eat healthy foods like
broccoli because it doesn’t taste good.
I’m sure you have foods and vitamins your kids avoid too. For them, avoidance of an unpleasant taste in
their mouth is more of a goal than healthy living. As a Christian parent, I have to remember
that kids will avoid things they don’t like.
Where did they learn to do that?
Hmmm.
I guess I avoid things I
don’t like most of the time too – no olives or coconut for me, please! I avoid admitting my sinfulness. I avoid taking time to read my Bible
daily. I avoid daily exercise. I avoid driving the speed limit 100% of the
time. I avoid using good manners when
I’m upset or frustrated. I avoid all
kinds of things that are good for me because it is unpleasant in the short
term.
As I think about it, I am
reminded of how God’s laws and commandments leave a “bad taste in my
mouth.” The law is good for me, but I
don’t want to live by it all the time. I want to do my own thing. Thankfully, God’s grace is there to grant
forgiveness when I don’t want to live under His good law. His grace covers me, and you, and our kids!
“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not
under law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14
Family Discussion Points!
What are some things people
in your family avoids eating?
What are some things your
family avoids doing that are ultimately good for you?
Simply: Law = you are sinful, but God’s grace = you
are completely forgiven. How should the
law impact your life? How should God’s
grace?
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