Teachable Moments...

Tonight as I was snuggling with Grace, we discussed how her ballet class (that resumed today) went. As she was telling me about it, she said she had a little disagreement with her best friend, Julia, who also happens to be in the class with her. According to Grace they had a minor disagreement about who would go first in line. Well, as she was telling me this story, the "teachable moment" light bulb went off in my head and I reminded Grace how Jesus told us that those who want to be first should go last (i.e. wisdom found in Luke 14:11), and that she should have not squabbled with her friend about going first, rather, she just should have gladly let her go before her.

To my surprise, Grace proceeded to inform me, "Mom, we don't need to listen to "God's Word" (and yes, she actually put up her 2 fingers and made the quote sign) ALL the time."

I wasn't sure whether to laugh (I mean, c'mon- the whole dramatic quote sign was pretty funny)- or, to be dismayed that somewhere along the line I failed to teach my daughter a fundamental truth that YES, actually, we do have to listen to God's Word "ALL" the time.

So, I explained to her, ya know- that core fundamental belief I have - in the Bible and trusting, relying and obeying ALL of it, ALL the time. And, lest I further aggravate my 1st born daughters inborn Type A, OCD personality, I did, of course, also make a reminder and reference to the truth of us being human (i.e. sinners!) and that we cannot be perfect, but that is where God's grace and mercy and forgiveness comes in. BUT- the point being... YES! We are told to listen to God's Word ALL the time.

But as I left her room, while I was still finding myself a little bit in shock that she actually thought we didn't need to follow the Bible all the time, I found myself in a revelation of irony of how, indeed, I have so many times in my life been convinced of that exact same false notion. It is so easy to pick and to choose and to find what suits us at any given time in our life. It is easy to make excuses and assumptions that the Bible just isn't relevant to today's "modern" society... or, at least the parts we don't want to agree with.

I found myself walking out of my 6 year old's bedroom with a powerful reminder...

God is the same yesterday. and today. and FOREVER.

And so it stands that His word is valid and true and holy and right yesterday. today. and FOREVER. God's Word is the ultimate expression of His love for us. It's His handwritten guide for me. For you! For anyone who chooses to receive and believe. What He speaks to us through His word may not always be easy to follow, but it is always- ALWAYS- meant for our good, for our protection and, most importantly, for His glory.

I am always amazed and amused how God continually uses my own parenting to teach ME lessons about Him. And I am thankful that in those teachable moments, I am not, always, just the one doing the teaching, but also the one who is taught.