How Do Parents Gain the Respect of Their Children?

It is within human nature to try to please others by being nice. However parents can’t always be nice if appropriate discipline and boundaries are used to teach children how to live in a family and society. Refusing to enforce rules and boundaries goes against God’s guidelines for parenting.

Making every effort to please is an attempt to avoid feeling guilty. Unreal or pseudo guilt is triggered by the failure to please everyone. At this juncture ask, “Is it better to be loved and accepted at this moment or to be respected?”

Most parents know children will not always like them, maybe even hate them.

Children who respect their parents go out into the world with a greater chance for success than those who have been pampered and coddled. Let this appeal be yours from Psalm 25:4-5: “Show me your way, O Lord. Teach and guide me in your truths, for you are my God and my hope.”

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

~Isaiah 55:8-9 New International Version

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Making Your Life Count

Making your life count for something is an objective most people pursue in life. It's comparable to pursuing a dream as if it were from the very heart of God. From early high school my niece decided to be a pharmacist. She followed that dream by taking chemistry and higher math courses to gain acceptance into a college degree program.

Her passion for reaching her career objective helped her stay focused when she encountered hardships and discouragements. Staying on track by following the natural progression of her college degree program provided hope for reaching her objective.

Samson seemed to be unaware of God’s purpose for him, so he followed what his passions dictated. That God has a plan for you is confirmed in Psalm 40:5. "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you plan for us." Be attentive and listen with your heart and your mind as God's plans for you become evident. God bless you with confidence and trust in your pursuit. 

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I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress.

~Psalm 32:8 The Living Bible

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Depending on God for Help

Life is fragile, and it only takes an accident or a disease to intensify that reality. Yet human beings are capable of managing immense hardships while simultaneously struggling with physical or emotional complications. Still our resilience, flexibility and strength are limited, highlighting our dependency on God for help.

Samson pleaded with God to give him one final opportunity to display his strength, which would officially end his life rather than continue to live in humiliation as a blind slave. He may have believed this demonstration of power would bring Israel closer to freedom while concurrently permitting him to die with integrity.

As a blind slave Samson exercised the only option which he believed he had at that moment. He activated what faith he had in the Lord by asking for strength to carry out one final act against Israel’s enemy. God's ways are not our ways since he has a complete, perfect picture of the future. For that, I am thankful. 

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Listen, Lord, to my prayer; hear my cries for help. I call to you in times of trouble, because you answer my prayers.

~Psalm 86:6-7 Good News Bible

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