Just a Daisy in the Meadow

Read this this morning and just wanted to share it with you too . . . Thought it was interesting what she said about a self-disciplined adult and a parent-disciplined child . . . Are we laying the groundwork  for that?  Just a challenge for me . . .  number one I think would be the hardest for me (will think about this.)  And number 15 I don’t agree with.  I believe in  teaching them to work at a young age.  It’s good for them to be given “commands” and have them do them.  Part of learning to obey . . .

Susanna Wesley’s 16 Rules of Parenthood

Susannah Wesley was the 25th child of twenty-five, and the mother of nineteen children,

including John and Charles Wesley. Through much adversity, she dedicated her

life to instilling a sense of Christian Destiny into each of her children. Her children went

on to change the world.

Here are 16 rules she laid down in her home.

1. Eating between meals not allowed.

2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.

3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.

4. Subdue self-will in a child, and those working together with God to save the child’s soul.

5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.

6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.

7. Give them nothing that they cry for, and only that when asked for politely.

8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.

9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.

10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.

11. Comment and reward good behavior.

12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.

13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters.

14. Strictly observe all promises.

15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.

16. Teach children to fear the rod.

On Discipline

Susannah Wesley believed that for a child to grow into a self-disciplined adult, he/she must first be a

parent-disciplined child. To her, the stubborn flesh was the hardest battle for Christians to fight, and godly

parents would do well to equip their children to overcome it early. She writes:

“When the will of a child is totally subdued, and it is brought to revere and stand in awe of the parents,

then a great many childish follies … may be passed by. . . . I insist on the conquering of the will of children

betimes, because this is the only strong and rational foundation of a religious

education … when this is thoroughly done, then a child is capable of being

governed by reason and piety.”

One day one of her daughters wished to do something which was not

altogether bad, but which was not right. When she was told not to do it, she

was not convinced.

It was late and she and her mother were sitting beside a dead fire. Her

mother said to her: “Pick up that bit of coal.” “I don’t want to,” said the girl. “Go

on,” said her mother. “The fire is out, it won’t burn you.” “I know that,” said the

girl. “I know it won’t burn me but it will blacken my hands.” “Exactly,” said

Susannah Wesley. “That thing which you wish to do won’t burn, but it will blacken.

Leave it alone.”

I am a firm believer in the verse Romans 8:28 . . . I know I haven’t faced many hardships at all to speak of, but I have lived long enough to be rooted in Him and trust that the Almighty, All-knowing God has everything in control.  Yes, He gives us choices, and mankind  has made a mess of their lives to their devestation . . .  But I believe God has the whole picture . . . and I only a tiny, minuscule part.  I believe that all  things DO work together FOR GOOD to THEM THAT LOVE GOD and to them who are called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. Woe be it to those who aren’t on God’s side.

So what does all this pertain to in my life today?  This morning I was reading in Exodus 17  where the Israelites are going to battle against the Amalekites, and Moses says to Joshua, “Tomorrow, I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” And so it happens that when Moses held up his hand, Israel  prevailed,  and when he let it down their enemies prevailed.

In my life at the dawn of each  new day I purpose to stand at the top of the hill with he rod of God in my hand . . . and as long as I do, victory is attainable . . . but my hands, like Moses, become heavy . . . And yes, there is support.  There is a stone to sit on and helpers are holding up my arms . . .

. . . But sometimes I just get weary of all that it takes to keep going.  Why did God allow it to be this way? . . . Why can’t I have enough strength to stand and to keep my own arms up?  No one else could do Moses’ job.  No one else can really fill my roll as wife and mother to my husband and little Staufferites . . .

” . . . and his hands were steady till the going down of the sun.”  Moses held on and fought even though he was tired to the bone.  Till the day was done and the battle won, he keep “fighting” . . .

Eph.6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalites, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand i the evil day and having done all to stand . . .

Ep. 6:16  says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith . . .

There’s too much at stake here . . . souls making choices that will affect their eternal destiny . . . I can not, I will not give in to weariness in the battle. . . I will not be lulled to sleep when there is a battle being fought and God is depending on my to do my part that no one else can do.

He’s given me little ones not to just fill my life with the happiness that children bring but to train for war against the evil one, to share with them Life Divine and the ways Satan tries to lull us to sleep or kill us, disquiet our peace, and make us anxious and fretful, make us a stumbling block to others or lax and undisciplined in things that matter most like keeping God number one and seeking His wisdom in EVERY thing, following His path straight and narrow path when it’s hard and rough . . . believing that God does see the Big Picture and trusting Him when I can’t make sense of my little, itsy, bitsy piece of it . . .

Genesis 15:1  “Do not be afraid, Abram Aimee, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” When I was engaged I couldn’t wait to live life with my Fiance(Husband) that’s almost all I thought about.  God says that He is our exceedingly great reward . . . To spend the rest of our lives with Jesus . . . Yes, that will be the greatest reward I could ever want.  Exceedingly great!!!

How can I NOT hold on till the day is done and the battle’s won? . . . Hold on!