Jack and I have been at the dinner table for 40 minutes. He's been pocketing a bite of pasta (like a chipmunk) for the past 15 minutes. He's fighting tooth and nail not to eat two bites of food, one of which is already half way there. Personally, I can't believe it hasn't already dissolved by now!
In our small group we've been reading "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp (Challies gives a great review of it). Tripp makes a great point that children don't just need behavior modification, they need heart modification. It's not as much about the external action as it is about the internal posture of the heart. So right now I'm trying to figure out my son's heart. Is it his sinful stubbornness? His dislike of Hunt's? Or maybe he just doesn't understand the reasoning behind it all? This is my best (rookie) attempt at training him to humbly submit to a dad who sometimes gives him what he needs, rather than what he wants. And I figure, my folks did it, and now I like brussel sprouts :)
It's 7:05. The bites gone. Or dissolved?
- Nic
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book sounds great! i totally agree w/ the author's statements. now that we are faced w/ the sins of an almost 14 year old we are finding that punishment no longer works. he has to be grieved he hurt our relationship... :o( good for you for starting young. miss you guys!
ReplyDeletep.s. another great parenting book is "loving our kids on purpose". WOW, a lot of good stuff in there. wish i'd read it sooner!!!
ReplyDeletegreat book, actually modeled our children's ministry mission statement around that "heart modification" idea after reading the book..."graced based parenting" is another good one. glad to see your blog, we have several good friends who are current/former cru/aia staff and get to here a lot about the ministry around here, glad to see we may get to keep up with you a little more too:-) love you guys and are always praying for you...
ReplyDeletep.s. - the teacher in me can't believe that I posted with grammatical errors! long day I guess:)
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