When my son was a baby, I made his baby food and thought
getting him to eat veggies would be a piece of cake. I was so wrong. For years
he has refused to eat them, but turning another year older, my husband and I
knew it was time for him to step up to the big boy plate. I knew it would be a
challenge to incorporate the simplest veggies into his diet, but I had no idea
how difficult until this past week.
Eat Your Veggies |
He could have cared less if I put cheese, butter or sugar on
them. It didn’t matter if he helped pick them out or cook them. Adding veggies
to his favorite dish only made him hate his favorites. No matter what we tried,
he down right refused each offer. Along with the refusal to eat veggies came
attitude, disrespect, defiance and a child we were unaccustomed to parenting
creating a tension filled environment. It was so stressful, my husband and I
were ready to give up after day one.
On day three, I found myself praying what seemed to be a
silly prayer. Dear Lord, help him eat
these veggies. I am exhausted! On day six, we were completely depleted, leaving
us with no patience and lacking ideas. At this point, we hated veggies more
than our five year old, but we had to stick with finding something that worked or
shred our decent parent cards.
With so much bad behavior stemming from vegetables, I had no
choice but to dish out punishment as well. When I took just one of his most
precious toys away, he did not even blink an eye creating huge punishments
never before dealt in our home.
My prayers continued and did not seem so silly anymore.
Father, help me to be
the mother he needs to grow into the man you designed him to be. Lord, help him
to learn about how to make good decisions and see how they impact his life.
I continued to pray with Jacob each night about vegetables
and attitude and let him know I was praying for him every day. While praying
through the situation, I realized there was more to this phase than just eating
vegetables. He needed to learn no matter the situation, he was not to act with
attitude and defiance. He needed to experience how decisions he made affect the
way other people react to him. He needed to comprehend how the extra things in
life, like toys, do not come with bad decisions. This was a new opportunity to
teach him good verses bad.
Thankfully our schedule cleared from a busy week and I was
able to stay home with Jacob. Sunday was the day nothing but vegetables would
be offered. After church, I came home
alone with him. He was hungry and in a bad mood coupled with an atrocious attitude.
Not only did he not get offered any food other than vegetables, I ignored him
and explained it was because he had disrespected me for too long and did not
deserve Mommy attention. With so much taken from him throughout the week,
losing Mommy attention and all food normal to him, you can only imagine how the
next 6 hours went. The standoff lasted until 5 pm when I offered him a green
drink. I did not have too much hope because he has tried and disliked them in
the past, but we were both willing to try anything. He took a drink, smiled and
said, “This is actually pretty good!” Halleluiah! Praise Jesus!
I was beyond tired of fighting, but I am glad I did not give
up on him. If I don’t fight for him, who will? God has entrusted him to me and
I know God has a plan for him. This may have started with vegetables, but there
are so many other values and lessons wrapped up in moments and phases of
parenthood like this one.
Scripture like Proverbs 22:6 is not just a suggestion from God.
It is unfair and ineffective to throw the Bible and church at my kids and
expect them to understand how to live a right and Christian life. They have to
see the full circle of prayer and feel their experiences with God. Children
need to be taught how to navigate through important things they don’t like
while respecting authority. We live in a world where extra seems to be expected
and is demanded despite behavior and poor choices. If they aren’t taught in
their current phases, how will they thrive and be successful as they enter into
life as an adult?
Even sitting in church yesterday I did not know how the
veggie situation would play out because my son, even as a five year old, has
free will. I did not want to force him. I wanted him to learn about choice. I
wanted him to see that turning away from what is good has repercussion beyond
his control. I want him to learn doing what is right and sometimes hard is
ultimately the easiest route with far greater results.
I love opportunities to teach my children how to grow a Faith Painted Heart. It is hard for me to
say no to the world and is no different for a young child because all sin is
tempting and usually seems easier. My kids know about prayer and are taught how
to learn from the Bible. Children too can learn and experience the goodness of God
when presented the opportunity and explanations with their situations as the
examples. I rather my children struggle through growing pains while I can still
hold their hand and guide them as opposed to suffer through them and the humiliation
as an adult.
I know there are some of you reading who are young and
struggle to listen to a request of a parent or teacher. Listen. Follow through
with respect. Please understand there is a reason to respect authority.
Authority is wiser and more experienced. They can see things we can’t always
see. They think in ways we don’t think and when we listen, obey and follow
through with respect, we too are wiser. We skip the bad things that follow
disrespect, refusal and defiance. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking
God to hold your hand to help you through the unwanted process. God is faithful
and will help you.
We all have choices to make and when untaught, bad decisions
are more likely to be made. Parents, help your children make wise choices
learning from you. You are their best teacher. Let the Bible be your guide and
walk the way you want your children to walk.
God help us to take scripture like Proverbs 22:6 and
Philippians 1:6 to parent with healthy strategies to grow good and Godly adults
making a difference in the world. Help us to put our emotion, feelings and
pride aside to go the required distance. Help our children obey and respect a
little more with each lesson. We love you God and thank you for the sacrifices
of the cross making this all possible. It is in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Direct your children
onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. –Proverbs
22:6 (NLT)
And I am certain that
God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is
finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. –Philippians 1:6 (NLT)