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Abba Father

ABBA FATHER APPRECIATES MATURITY IN ME

I like to watch as my son learns to assume responsibility for his actions. When he was little I remember when he had broken a "rule" or been disobedient he would make every excuse in order to try to place the blame on anything else. He never wanted to admit immediately that he had made a wrong choice.

As a parent I remember having to look my son in the eye and tell him very clearly where the responsibility lay and what he was expected to do in a particular situation.

I remember time after time I would have to correct him, forgive him, love him, and encourage him to walk in correct ways of behavior. I could not just take the "easy" way out and ignore his misbehavior. I had to set the boundaries for him and reinforce them time after time, because I had made a commitment to him.

I remember having to correct my son for putting his feet on the dining table during a meal when he was three years old. Now, that he is grown, he would never even consider doing such a thing. Why?---- He has learned correct behavior.

Today, if he came in and sat down, as an adult, and put his feet on the dining table I would still correct him – the rules have not changed! The difference is – my son has changed. He has matured.

I can allow him greater freedom and greater opportunities because I can trust him to behave correctly.

Because my son is maturing---- he and I can now enjoy "mature" conversations. We can share "grown-up" things.

When my son was small our conversations were "small". We could only talk about "small" concepts and ideas because of his maturity level. He could only understand and "handle" childish things. We had good conversations but they were limited to my son’s maturity level at the time.

There were times when my son was little that he did not even know what my occupation was – he just knew me as "parent". For that age – it was enough.

Then through the years of growing my son began to look beyond himself and his immediate physical needs and the questions began. "What do you do at work?" "Why do we live here?" and "When will this happen?"

I would patiently answer the questions.

Then as my son grew he began to look at me and question, "When can I drive a car?" "When can I date?" and "When can I do a certain activity?"

There are certain benefits that go with maturity and there is no other way to get them except by maturity. As a parent, I patiently went through each stage of my child’s development knowing where he was headed and the blessings that maturity brings.

He was too young and too inexperienced in life to see what lay ahead. But, as a parent, I knew the direction he needed to go. I knew the guidelines and the safe route to take.

Dear Abba Father,

Sometimes I feel so small and seem to know so little about so many things. Thanks for Your Precious Holy Spirit being there to guide and instruct me at all times.

Thank you that I do not have to depend on "my experience" in a situation. You have all knowledge about everything that ever was or ever will be and You so generously share Your experience and knowledge with me at just the right time.

You take all my "dark" circumstances and explain them with Your "light" and then they seem so clear and simple.

You keep my path free from clutter so that I do not have to stumble. You just simply walk ahead of me and all I have to do is follow in the path You make for my feet.

Lately I have noticed that You do not even hold my hand all the time to keep me on the path any more – Glory! – Could it be because You can trust me more! – Could it mean that I am beginning to grow up!

Thank You in Jesus' Name for growth,

I love You.

Your child.