Winning with no effort

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

I am hard on my boys….. I am raising them to become strong men, amongst a confused spineless society letting them decide what they will identify as this week. I don’t let them say I can’t, but push them to failure so they understand it, then the reward of success is much sweeter. I don’t believe everyone gets a participation trophy as a child, and those lives will be much harder as they learn the truth from their weak childhoods. In the sport we have chosen, it requires pushing yourself past your limits, failing, getting up, and trying again, again, and again. It is a solo sport, one you cannot blame your team, but the success is much sweeter when you accomplish your goals. Being a motodad always will strain relationships as you develop their skills into victories, ones that it may take later in life to appreciate.

Jesus was as direct in his ministry on earth as anyone ever could be. He told people the truth, because he is the definition of the truth. Jesus was the epitome of “tough love” because even his condemnations at times were wrapped up in love. All throughout the Bible are the teachings of tough love, of telling others the truth, yet many times helping them to learn from it. Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Are we exemplifying to our children the love of the Lord if we are letting them think life comes easy, everyone gets trophies, and rebuke is an evil thing that will offend?

Though I may push my boys through sports, or work and life, I will never force them into religion. I grew up in religion, and rebelled against it when the opportunity came. I turned my back on God and ran from Sunday’s as fast as I could. Your relationship with God is a heart thing, not a checklist of duties required by the church; Jesus condemned the religious who thought they received salvation by their works. Show your children your faith by how much you pursue it, by your life filtered through your faith in the sovereignty of God. Life is hard, winning is sweet, but grace and Heaven are the greatest victory you never have to work for.