The last couple of days I have spent preparing for our Children’s hour at
I had to use the logo because I love it so much…(I know, I am a weirdo!!)
I have found that when I really take time to look at what we are going through in this exact moment, God reveals himself and what he has for us to learn through so many people. It is amazing to me. Especially amazing as I study this particular lesson of Jacob and Esau. And equally amazing our virtue of peace for the month of February.
One thing my four kids are very good at doing, is giving me content to write about, teach about, and share about. So thank you kiddos! We are working hard at putting into practice what we are learning. Have you heard the story of the brothers, Jacob and Esau? How Jacob stole Esau’s birthright which led to taking his inheritance? Esau was NOT HAPPY. Jacob had deceived his father and it. was. ugly. But years later, the brothers meet again and Esau decides to let go of his anger and love Jacob.
How many times have you heard from your kids “but it’s NOT FAIR!”. I think I may have heard it a few times this morning already. And I know I heard it yesterday morning and the morning before that. Are you getting the theme here that the Kaufman’s may not be morning people? Or I think it is more that we are going to bed TOO late, but anyway.
The bottom line we are teaching the kids this week is this: prove you care about others by letting go of “whats fair”.
Here’s a for instance for you.
These girls did NOT think the refs were “fair” at their last basketball game. Now, there is a time to cry and even be angry. I was there! BUT, the fact of the matter is, they lost their game, it may or may not have been “fair”, and still you have friends to cheer on! Do you just forget it? It wasn’t fair! I’m not going to anymore basketball games!
Absolutely not! It was time to celebrate the boys and did I mention they WON the League Championship!!!??!! How awesome is that?!
I gave an example to the Journey Kids to think about all of the fun things you would do at a sleepover with one of your really good friends. What would you eat? What games would you play? When would you finally go to sleep? When would you wake up?
And then, I told them to think about what they would do~~ you call up your really good friend for a sleepover and he or she was already having a sleepover with another friend. How would that make you feel?
I think most of the kids could relate. Especially our older ones. It happens. It isn’t FAIR!! And as a parent? Don’t you just hurt for your kids when something like this happens? It is so hard to not want to fight back. To make the other person feel just as you did. But are we really supposed to act in that way? Jesus does not want us to continue the cycle of hurt, retaliation, and anger.
The basic truth we are trying to get across with this story is this: I need to make the right choice.
This is sure not limited to kids and what they go through, is it? Oh my goodness. How we can all get sucked into this thinking of what is fair and what isn’t. “It’s not fair that he got that job promotion and I didn’t”. “It’s not fair that she can have kids and I can’t”. “It’s not fair that they always get invited to everyone else’s house”. “It’s not fair that my kid isn’t a starter on the team”. “It’s not fair that they get to live in that house, or drive that kind of car…” The list goes on and on. I bet each of us could add to that list too, don’t you think?
Proving you care about others by letting go of “what’s fair”.
It’s the bottom line. For us all.
Romans 14:19 “So let us do all we can to live in peace. and let us work hard to build each other up.”
I have to just say, I am beyond blessed to have friends who are growing their kids with mine that strive to show how much they care about others. It’s a work in progress. And I will say….especially with GIRLS!! Oh the drama. But God placed our kids in each of our families because He knew that’s where our kids belong. That single truth right there is what keeps Steve and me going. And we haven’t even gotten to the rough patches. So remind me, will you? When you hear me screaming…
“It’s NOT fair.”
Steph's Blessings 