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Good thing they have a wise, godly mother to guide them on their way.
Oh, wait. Back that train up.
Do they? I had a major, eye-opening, wake-up call a couple of weeks ago. Here it is. See if you catch it:
"Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult." (Pr. 12:16)
"A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense." (Pr. 19:11)
Yikes! Did you see WHO the fool is here? Shouldn't it read "the one who annoys is the fool"?!?! Really? The one who GETS annoyed is the fool?!?
Oy vey.
I'm not proud to admit that one of my 3 year old's favorite sounds to make when he's perturbed is a sort of exasperated, sigh/groan thing. And I really wish I didn't know where he got it.
Humbling.
But at least I get annoyed at noble things like the trash not being taken out, toy semis that won't stay hitched to their trailer, children not eating the food I prepare and potty training. I mean, if I'm going to sin, at least it's over something that really matters.
<Sigh> Yes, the exasperated sigh/groan thing that I mentioned above because I'm really annoyed at my foolishness.
How in the world is this fool supposed to help my kids turn from their foolish ways? If I can't get it right, how can I expect them to?
But there is some hope.
Wisdom yields patience and it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. (See 2nd verse above)
There is an all-wise God who is ever so patient with me and chose to overlook all of my offenses through his Son, Jesus Christ.
He is the Source of the grace and wisdom I need to stop the eye-rolling and moaning.
As Scotty Smith asks God in his book, Everyday Prayers
, "Give me gospel brightheartedness and gospel thick-skinnedness." (p. 42). And I am well aware how bright hearted and thick skinned I must be to overlook the seemingly incessant offenses of a toddler and preschooler.I am thankful for the conviction. (Funny aside: In a weird sort of way, I really appreciate conviction nowadays. It used to discourage me because I realized yet ANOTHER imperfection in my life. The way I see it now: I KNOW the imperfection is there. If I'm not seeing it, I'm blinded by pride and I'm glad when the Lord shows me the state of my heart.)
Anyway, I'm thankful for the conviction. Because the conviction has led to repentance. The repentance brought the forgiveness of God. And now, by God's grace, I will see more clearly my tendency to get annoyed, which will hopefully lead me into this cycle (conviction - grace) more quickly.
And with time, hopefully my boys' mama will wisely overlook more offenses than she foolishly groans at.
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Desire, I am seriously struggling with annoyance this morning! Through various circumstances I am annoyed with several people in my life. What a timely post for me! And I too am grateful for the conviction (this is definitely an area in which I need improvement). However, here is where I'm struggling...what do I do now?! Obviously, pray about it and I'm doing that. But any other thoughts on how to deal with this? I feel like the proverbs are saying "don't get annoyed so easily" and I agree (I really shouldn't have gotten so annoyed at my daughter while doing her hair...it is silly!); but how exactly does one go about doing this? Thoughts?
ReplyDeletePraying for you, Lacie! Hmmm... well, considering I struggle too, I may not have to most incredible insight, but here are my initial thoughts. It says the wise overlook offenses... sounds a little like forgiveness. I have to forgive the major and minor annoyances in my life in order to be wise. As "Brazenlilly" commented below, James tells us if any of us lacks wisdom to ask God for it and he will give it generously. So we continue to ask in prayer for God's wisdom to help us overlook the offenses.
DeleteThe other thing that really spoke to me in all this was putting on the gospel. The whole post was sparked by a prayer I read from the book I mentioned. Here's another helpful quote from it: "This side of glorification, I don't really expect to be annoyance free. But certainly the gospel is big enough to help me show my annoyance less quickly, less often, and less harmfully. And certainly the gospel is powerful enough to help me repent quicker when I do act like a fool -- taking every insult, offense, cut, quip, and quirk way too seriously. So, Jesus, give me all the grace and wisdom I need to know what to take seriously and what simply to overlook."
I think the fact that you feel conviction and recognize it as an issue is a huge grace in your life. I got annoyed a couple of times with my boys this morning (they splashed water ALL over the bathroom right after I got done cleaning it!!!! That kind of thing ALWAYS happens when I write a post about something... I end up being challenged by it that day!), BUT I noticed that I got annoyed and I asked for forgiveness. I think it's less about reaching "perfection" and more about leaning on Christ and his strength more and more, realizing that we can't do it on our own. And trusting that God will be faithful to his Word and give you the wisdom he promises.
Hang in there!
I'm doing Beth Moore's James study, and right there in the first chapter he says that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask of God who gives generously to all WITHOUT FINDING FAULT! I cling to that promise...he'll give me wisdom and not judge my foolishness.
ReplyDeleteAmen! I'm so thankful that he overlooks all our offenses and that he graciously offers wisdom to us when we ask. A wonderful promise to cling to!
DeleteThis is so helpful! It is such a universal struggle of all parents dealing with impulsive, impatient, and immature childre. It does help knowing that God overlooks our moments of human-ness in which we falter; we will never have His patience, and he probably requires so much more in waiting on us to turn to Him! I will keep what you wrote in mind as I have many moments every day when I wonder, "Why am I letting a 2.5-year-old get to me?" I think we're better off if I can rise above it to not be the fool. :)
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