"We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3
I remember listening to a tape (dating myself, no it wasn't a podcast) by Evangeline Johnson, whose mother Nancy Campbell publishes Above Rubies. In this tape she was talking about parenting with a heavenly mindset. It was hard for my earthy mind, rushing in a thousand directions to understand, but I think she was talking about not letting the difficulties of the day distort our perceptions of who God is and how good He is at handling our challenges.
This concept has come to mind again lately as we have learned a new concept through the Love After Marriage workshop which we are leading in our home.
This concept is very well illustrated in John 10:4-5. Jesus is talking about his sheep, which means us. "….and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."
We are the sheep of His pasture. He is working hard to protect us, but there are still strangers on the fences trying to harass us and disturb our peace. Strangers such as fear and worry, anger and strife. These are strangers that we don't want to follow. Following them means that when our children are pulling on our leg and whining at us, we yell instead of gently meeting needs and sorting out issues. Following them means that when our kids aren't getting a concept, we grow angry and frustrated instead of praying for understanding and creativity in teaching them.
Strangers are going to try and talk to us, but when we learn to send them away from us, and listen instead to what God is saying to us, we can keep our peace and give our children a peaceful space to grow and learn.
For the rest of my series on Heavenly Mothering, click here
