Transcript
Children have a unique and difficult ability. It's an ability they don't know they have, but they're born with it; and invariably, it will happen. Your children will step on your idols. If your idol is material things and you really have put way too much of your identity and meaning and purpose in those material things, you'll have a child that will break your stuff. It's inevitable. It will feel like it's personal, like they woke up in the morning and said, "I'm going to drive mom crazy today. I'm going to break something valuable," although it never really happens that way.
When Your Idol Is Peace and Quiet
If your idolatry tends to be in the area of wanting to rule your world so there's lots of peace and quiet in the house, oh man, your children will blow away any delusion you ever had that your house will be quiet. If food means too much to you, your child will eat that chocolate chip cookie that you were planning for yourself even though you've hidden it. They'll find it. They'll enjoy it.
Now, here's what's important about that, that that is actually God's grace operating because God is zealous to reveal our idols to us so that He and He alone would rule the thoughts and desires and motives of our heart. That's called grace. That's transforming, rescuing, delivering grace.
And so, parents, in those moments when you are ripping angry over the thing that was broken or so mad that there never seems to be quiet in the house, how about asking the question, "Could it be that a good thing in my life has become a bad thing in my heart because it's become a ruling thing?" And how about thinking this is not just the result of having sinner children. This is the result I have in my heavenly Father who loves me and He will keep delivering me from idols 'til there are no more idols.
That's grace and as you receive that grace again, that will begin to change the way you respond to those moments that every parent faces because every parent has idols and every parent has children who are real good at stepping on them.
