Where the Spirit is Leading~Honor and Respect

Sometimes words just don't fit. 

 Other times they fit like gloves. 

 Sometimes I find myself too tired to run to the computer to share what God is doing in my moments here.  Sometimes I wish I could just clear a few minutes to quick share what the Holy Spirit is showing me. 

For months (though it seems like years, perhaps an eternity full) I have been working on teaching my children about honor and respect.  It is heavy on my heart, so heavy that I am willing to put all else aside so that we can get our hearts around it.  My heart right along side of theirs.

Honor and Respect....First for God, then for their parents, then for family, then for others.

  We have talked, read Bible stories together, talked, prayed, about this honor and respect.  I have disciplined, reminded, corrected, again reminded, disciplined...I think you get the picture.  We are in the midst of a most holy battle, one that our enemy would like us to lose.  Because if we do, then he wins and he puts a stone in our hearts, that will eventually bring us to ruin.

Then, the flood walls broke yesterday.  As I was opening our Bible time together in prayer, the Holy Spirit led me to the dictionary of all places.  I went over to the shelf, pulled out my Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary and looked up the word respect.  A list of many definitions loomed before my eyes, but it was the first one that brought me to tears.  Literal tears.  It said respect:  honor; giving your full attention to. 

Now to me this was huge, as Princess Sweetness asked me why I was always asking my children to look me in the eyes when I was talking (or telling) them something.  As I read this, I realized that it was because in their hearts, deep in their little child like hearts, that they weren't willing to give me their full attention (or respect.)  Seeing it in black and white made the lights go on for me.

After the definition was read for all my students children to hear, and we read our passages together for the day, I made an announcement. 

(*we are currently reading the book of John and a chapter in Psalms everyday. Our Princess Sweetness first reads it aloud to us in her first language- Oromo, then a bit in Amharic for practice- then takes turns reading parts aloud with her siblings in English)-

The announcement was this:

"I will no longer be saying *Look ME in the eye*

When I speak, YOU will look me in the eye and you will stop all that you are doing..."

why? 

"Because God says you are to give me your full attention, your respect.  HE is telling you.  Commanding you to honor and respect Him first and your parents second.  It is an act of pure love, given by a willing obedient heart."

Day one and even the seven year old freezes in his tracks when he hears my voice.  I think the Holy Spirit was moving deep not only in my heart, but in theirs too.  Of course we will keep with the character lessons, but how good to know that I am not in this alone, that God is right here with me battling for their hearts too!