Preface: Please bear with me. This blogpost is about tiger sharks, dirty couches, defiant children, and there is even a little bit of ebonics thrown in there.
I read in a book recently that sand tiger sharks are born fighters. While still in the womb, the embryos fight each other. Most of the pups are cannibalized before they are ever born.
[Yes, it was a children's book about sharks from the library. This is about the scope of my reading literature these days!]
Now, I am not saying that my kids are sharks. But there are some similarities... let me explain!
The Bible says we are born with a nature to sin- an inward motivation to sin. We don't learn to sin; rather, it comes
naturally to us since birth. This is explained well in John 3, and it also explains the popular phrase of being "born again."
"Jesus answered him: Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3
So, like the sharks are born with sharkish nature to kill, us humans are born with the human nature to sin.
Moms all know that we don't have to teach a child to sin. We do not teach them to say no, to want to be defiant, or to talk back to us. It is a natural process of growing up. It is our responsibility to teach our children, to disciple them; to shape our kids into the kind of adults we want them to be.
Here's what happened this morning. I put a new blanket on my poor, poor couch. This couch has endured a lot over the last 5 years. It could really use a professional cleaning. Instead, it is getting a large cozy blanket to mask the wear-and-tear it has been dealt!
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| Believe me. It's dirty under there. |
Now, four-year-old Thor began using a tow truck toy to pull the waffled blanket threading apart, resulting in long strings of thread from the blanket. Essentially, he was pulling the blanket apart. I scolded him and told him there was no way he needed to ruin a good blanket! He showed defiance instead of remorse, so I sent him up to his room.
Like a brave, gallient knight, he marched up the stairs defiantly proclaiming,
"and I will continue to ruin things as long as you are mean to me!"
Yeah. What those pictures say.
Oh. No. You. Did. N't. thought I, as I sprung from the living room rug to follow him up the stairs. I do believe he was beginning to regret the words that came from his mouth.
{and how often do we as adults regret the things our untamed tounge says!}
Needless to say, the boy got a long talking to. He got sent to bed at 10:30 a.m. He skipped lunch. He will be in bed until his normal nap time is over. He is bummed and disappointed. But hopefully, he will learn something out of this.
But really... can't we all?
James 3
[which ironically, I was just reading last night!]
Taming the Tongue
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Wisdom from Above
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But rthe wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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