Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust
in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my
soul. Psalms 143:8
God longs for relationship.
Salvation itself is the recovery of relationship for God after man
sinned against God and destroyed the original relationship with Him. Can you imagine what Adam experienced as he
walked with God in the Garden of Eden?
Uninhibited, unrestricted access to the Creator had to have been an
incredible experience.
What is amazing about this is that Adam had God’s undivided
attention. Just consider how we feel
when someone we respect and love stops to listen solely and fully to us. How must that have blessed Adam! The truth is God listens to us the same way
He listened to Adam. The restriction on
our communication is not His inattention but our distractions. God longs for us to seek Him and find our
significance.
Giving a child our undivided attention is a significant act that builds
significance. Children and adults need
to know that someone is listening. The
power of words is amazing. Think right
now of the last person that gave you more than two minutes of uninterrupted
opportunity to talk about what was happening in your world…and LISTENED
ATTENTIVELY! I am sure you see that
person as special to your life.
Talking cures many an illness. Our own words reentering our own mind
through our own ears can give a new perspective to a situation, relationship or
emotion. Remember…
What We Don't Talk Out, We Act Out!
Children who have
ONE significant adult who will listen and respond to their feelings and life
situations are much more likely to avoid negative consequence behaviors. Sometimes, our children are fearful or
inhibited in talking with us as their parents.
That is why it is imperative that we introduce them to other concerned
adults who they may choose to open up to.
If we fail to help them find significance in a positive manner, they
will find another way to get it. Unfortunately,
they will seek “attention” as a replacement for “significance” through a
variety of behaviors (few of which are positive).
HOME: Where I
can admit my greatest weakness
and failure and
still feel accepted.
If there is a definition of what "HOME" feels like, this has
to be it. When I am in this place I am
secure. When I am in this place, I am
safe. When I am in this place, I am
loved. We all seek this place.
If we do not find this in the midst of our physical family, we will
find a "home" somewhere to talk about all the "stuff" that
is going on and be accepted...weaknesses, failures and all. Accepting someone with their weakness does
not mean we accept their weakness. It
merely positions us to help them overcome it.
Children have enough places that evaluate their behavior and criticize
their choices. Every parent and
caregiver must remember...
Kids flee from people who consistently tell
them
what they are not and flock to people who share
with them who they are and who they can be.
what they are not and flock to people who share
with them who they are and who they can be.
Take the time today to give your full attention to someone you love or
one who desires to have your ear. Seek
someone out who you know everyone else ignores.
God can use your ear to bless someone today.
Scripture to
Claim:
The hearing ear and the
seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.
Proverbs 20:12
