Last week we began exploring the discipline of submission as it relates to our hearts as mothers. I’ve mulled over the verses in Ephesians:
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Last year on my personal blog, I spent several weeks digging into the idea of submission in Ephesians. We explored what submission looks like between spouses, parents and children, employers and employees. In the context of that study, I began with the premise that submission begins with a very simple thing: Being polite.
I’ve caught myself often over the past week being impolite to my daughter. Honestly, having our exchange student has made me very aware of how I speak to my girl. Knowing that Johanna is observing us has made me notice all sorts of “little things” in my parenting that are certainly not what God intends.
As I mentioned last week, I’m not implying that we should be in obedience to our children … submission is far more than that. I’m simply suggesting that we have an obligation to model for our children the fullness of humility. A large part of submission is tied up in a humble heart … a willingness to lay aside “me.” Are our children seeing the example of Christ in our lives? In how we interact with them? In how we speak to them? In how we discipline them?
Today, I urge you to take some time and read Philippians 2:5-11. Ponder what a humble heart looks like and ask the Lord to reveal to you any areas of pride and selfishness is your life, and especially in your parenting.
How have you observed pride and selfishness affect your parenting?
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Selfishness is something I have fought for a long time when it comes to “my” time. If I’m involved in something, I frequently find myself inwardly complaining if a child needs my help with something, forgetting that they come first. I don’t think it is a submission we give to our children, but rather a submission and obedience we give to God, as He has entrusted them to our care