His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? – Matthew 25:26
I know, me personally, when it comes to following Jesus I get lazy. I don’t want to wander too far outside of my comfort zone.
However, when I have taken steps to move in that direction, I have been very happy with my results.
Every time I push myself, in the name of Jesus, I have never been let down. It encourages me to go again, and again, farther and farther, this time.
However, when it comes to my fitness routine, I find myself not only being lazy, but never exerting myself beyond what I think I can do. I work until gets hard. I work until it hurts. I work until I do what I set out to do, but not one more step beyond that.
I know my body can do more than what I push it to do. Just like I know I could do more for Jesus than I do. He not only calls me, he enables me too. Do I always do it? Nope. Because I get lazy.
I find when it comes to parenting, I am also just as lazy. I expect from my kids, what they have shown me they can do, or should I say what they are willing to do. But they whine and complain and it’s “easier” not to listen to them than to step up as a parent and ignore their excuses and demand their best. Well, because that would require more work on my half too.
But like me, I know they can do so much more.
So how do we teach our children to push on, to overcome, to not give up, to expect more?
I should expect more from them for starters. That would be a good start.
What if we pushed them beyond what they think they are capable of doing?
Would that not build their confidence as my stepping out in faith has built mine?
I want them to one day to be able to push themselves when there is no one else doing it for them.
I want them to continue on, when everyone else says they can’t.
And I want them to work to their potential; not to their comfort level.
I have a bunch of lazy kids. Kids who, like me, look for comfort. But growth doesn’t come from comfort.
It is through the pushing and the stretching and the going beyond what you thought you ever could.
It’s living through the pain and seeing you can still survive.
That’s what I want to teach my kids. That’s what I want to teach me.
Growing Faith 