Sometimes parenting seems like a constant process of trial and error. We have had such trouble trying to get our three year-old Danny to stay in the bed. We’ve tried sticker charts, toy rewards, extra privileges, or discipline all to no avail. Finally we stumbled upon the magic solution- if he stayed in the bed, he got to pick the morning’s breakfast cereal. This has now helped him to be motivated to obey. . . about half the time. Although, Danny may be the only child who gets out of bed to ask for clarification about what the reward will be if he stays in the bed. Somebody isn’t getting Captain Crunch in the morning and I think he’s going to be pretty disappointed.
As I feel my frustration mount during the fifth return trip to the bedroom in one night, I think about God’s patient compassion and forgiveness for me. I tend to engage in the same sinful behavior time after time after time. We all have our sin patterns that are so hard to break. And when I feel that grief and repentance over my sins, I also feel God’s gentle hand on my shoulder guiding me back into His righteous path the same way I guide my little boy back to his bed over and over again. . . except I think God does it with a lot less grumbling than I do.