“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.“ Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
When our children were little, our discipline had a pattern. When they disobeyed, we disciplined them correct the behavior. Then when the punishment was over, we would take them in our arms, reassure them we loved them and life would get back to normal.
But what happens as they get older? Sometimes even stronger or bigger than us?
We stop.
We still discipline.
But those moments of loving kindness after the discipline no longer happens.
I think we’re missing it.
We need to extend kindness to our child for our child’s sake. They still need that reassurance that no matter what they have done, our love for them is unconditional. It is never, ever based on their actions.
We need to extend that kindness to our child for our sake. Just the act of a hug or a kiss helps to heal the wound.
Just as Zephaniah 3:17 says God ceases to rebuke, taking great delight in us. We need to copy Him, showing loving kindness to those we have had to rebuke.
I have fallen in the trap of parting ways when upset and angry with one of my children. Now, as I am trying to change this pattern and mend our ways, it’s uncomfortable. She pushes me away when I try to hug. Asks me to stop when I rub her back.
But I won’t.
Though we are both uncomfortable for a season, like God, I want to show my girl that I do rejoice over her…even if it takes awhile to get it all worked out again.
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