Christian Living

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REALLY?


Why do we human beings often declare that we want a certain thing and yet we will not engage ourselves in the doing of it?

I am currently dealing with a blatant example of such a particular phenomena.

My 14 years old grandson came to live with me because he was not adjusting to his family’s new residence in a State far across the Country. We were forced by circumstance to enter him into an online, fully accredited school.

The County in which we lived would not allow him into the public school system unless his mother lived in the State; therefore it was necessary to get him into school at any means. We did that by online school, and he was adamant that he wanted that situation and that he did not want to go to public school for many reasons.

Some of those reasons were that, there is so much drama in the public school. Also that he likes, says he, to get up a little later and to not have to ride the school bus. He really likes the freedom he enjoys; additionally he is making better grades than he makes in public school.
The only problem is that he expects me to stand over him to push him to his every move. Of course that also creates a bad attitude in him when I “Push” him.

It leaves me to ask, “What does this child indeed want?”

I will not stand over him and twist his arm and monitor his every move.

I have made him aware of the “Three Options” he has, and I have advised him that the choice is in fact his; I will allow him to make his choice. However, there is a stipulation. That stipulation is that he must actually do what he chooses.

There is a second option which is that he can enter public school, since we have moved into a different County within the State. He feels that I am too stern and demanding because while he does not want to go to public school, and he feels that I should understand why; I am none-the-less expecting him to produce results. He has difficulty in understanding my demands.

I have a also advised him that the laws of the State require him to be in school and if he defaults on the first option, he will have to default to the second option and go to public school, plus he will have to rise at 5:30am to catch his bus and still be required to do his studies and homework.

His third option is to rebel against the laws of the State, should he be delinquent in attendance in public school and with getting his school work done, the State will take over his life and he will still have to do his school work.

This is a silly no brainer, concerning what to do. The choice he should make is clear to anyone. Don’t you agree?

Since he says he really wants the online school, why will he not just simply “Do” the work?

I could go on and on about the unrealistic actions of a fourteen year old. But I must be honest; I am guilty of the same behavior in other situations:
I want to lose weight. I want to get two books put together and published. I want to study/read my Bible everyday… and the list goes on. Why am I not doing the things that will bring about the results I want?

I am willing to pay for my grandson to attend the school of his stated choice, but he must engage himself in that which I have made available.

God is willing to provide for us the required abilities and all things to do the good acts, the desires of our hearts, of which He approves; however, we must engage ourselves in utilizing His provision.

So why do we not engage our actions? I wonder if God can see that we do not speak the truth because we do not lay hold of His provision for the doing of the things we say we truly desire to do or to become.

Take note:
God will not force our heart’s desire upon us. While He will give us what we need to accomplish it and will support us in well-doing, He will not force us to perform. He will still love us all the while we stew and find excuses for not doing what our mouths say we want.

Does anyone else, besides me, identify with my immature and unrealistic grandson?

Again, God will not force us to do right nor to achieve our hearts desires. If we want a thing that is good, we should pray and then engage in the doing of it.


Ramona, 10/02/2011

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