Faithfulness

Modern Day Parable
There once was a son who loved to play football =)

The son knew that when he signed up to play this year he would have to forgo several other activities, such as youth, to participate he agreed that this small sacrifice was worth playing the sport that he loved.....until his youth group scheduled a trip to the Hartford Fair.

Now the young man realized that when he had spoken to his father about playing football, he had agreed that he would need to make some sacrifices.  He remembered conversations about commitment and keeping your word, even when it is hard, and it IS hard for a 13 year old to not really want to go to the fair with his friends even though he has football practice.  To a 13 year old in August there isn't much to life outside of his football team and his friends, these are his two main priorities.

So this young man approached his father to discuss his dilemma and his mother just happened to also be in the room and hear the conversation. 

'I would really like to go to the Hartford Fair next Wednesday, I'm pretty sure I could even get a ride.'
the young man started...

'You have practice Wednesday?'  his father questioned. 
'Yes....but it is just one practice, I am sure I could miss just this once.'

This conversation continued for a few minutes, each time the father would remind the son of his commitment and try to teach him the value of keeping his word and doing the less fun of two fun things, because he had made a commitment to his team, his coach and ultimately himself. 
After each instruction the young man would have a reply about how important his commitments were to him, yet he thought going to the fair was ok.  The young man had come to the conclusion that he should be allowed to go and would not budge from that point.
Finally the father simply said, 'You're not going.'  and left it at that.

The next day the son came to his mother.  He started off simply talking about the encounter with his father, not criticizing, not arguing, just recounting and asking questions.  Then the young man, who had thought about his fathers conclusions over night, presented newly prepared arguments about why he thought he should be allowed to go to the fair. Some of the arguments were very reasonable and tempting - especially when he pointed out how much easier it would be for the mother to not have to drive him anywhere, and how much cheaper it would be.

His mother refused to involve herself in the son's debate with his father and simply instructed him to go and talk to his father about it again, if he so desired.
The son then said he would like to talk to his father, but he didn't think his father understood him and he felt ridiculed sometimes like his wishes didn't matter.  He asked the mother if she would go with him to talk to his father. 
The mother refused again, and instructed her son to discuss these concerns with his father as well. 
The son then became somewhat angry and stomped off to his room.

Later that evening the son did talk to his father and in the end they both agreed that the prior commitment should, and will, take priority. 

Some lessons we can learn:

1 - Be faithful in your commitments.  Clearly the son thought both things had worth, yet one would be far easier than the other and more enjoyable.

2 - Be faithful in your conversations.  The mother knew about the conversation that had happened the night before, the son's excuses for involving his mother seemed perfectly reasonable - yet they were at the root rather devious and manipulative, desiring only to get his way rather than protect relationships.  It always starts out innocently enough, but there is a point where you have a choice to course correct or continue down the wrong path.

3 - Be faithful in your conviction.  When someone tries to manipulate you, even if they will be angry, it is better to be true to God's word and honor your husband, not usurp his authority and start a fight. 

The more I go through life the more I see how important these lessons are to teach to my sons. 
I can not number the times that I have witnessed adults walk away from their commitments to the church, homeschooling, even to their husbands and wives! 
Nor can I recall, or would I want to recall, the number of times a conversation had at it's core the intent of 'getting ones way' rather than the intent to uplift, protect, and defend relationships.
Finally, the times that a true friend has offered me correction, I may have been upset at the time, but I came to appreciate and love the friend even more dearly.  How many times do we bear witness to manipulation, gossip or deceit, and then say nothing for fear of losing a 'friend'?

These things weary the soul!  Thank the LORD that my parable is just a mostly made up story.
It would break my heart to see these issues in the hearts of my sons!  

I love that my boys are faithful in their commitments - they see the value of keeping their word!  We are always working on making sure chores are done (this is a commitment issue) and done well, they are getting better at this the older that they get!

I love that my boys are faithful in their conversations - maybe it is because they are boys, but the gossiping, back biting and sarcasm just don't happen at my house.  I have been very surprised to see good kids participating in bullying, even at church and home schooling functions both in person, mocking people, and in text!  I never expected to come across some of this in the homeschooling or faith communities!  I am proud that my kids don't involve themselves in this, even if it means they sometimes bear the brunt of the harassment.

I love that my boys are faithful in their convictions - while it doesn't earn them any friends, it is good that they aren't willing to participate in degrading conversations.  It is good that they will stand up for the little guy and befriend the new kid!  I like the people that they are becoming.

Praise God for His faithfulness.  He is faithful, even when we, and others, are not.