Paying for Your Raising

My wife and I were talking at lunch and discussing why it is that we are the way we are in our lives when it comes down to "Paying for your raising!"

If you have never heard that term, the meaning of it is that as you raise your children you are "paid back" for the things you did that you never got caught doing wrong as a child.  In other words, your children are going to "drive you insane" with some of the things that they do and it is "because of what you didn't get caught doing when you were young and living at home."

I really don't believe that to be the case.  We all do things we shouldn't and we give Satan a foothold every time we decide to give in to temptation and do something we shouldn't do.  We know we are doing something wrong but it is just hard to give it up because our minds are telling us "how much fun it would be" and our hearts are telling us "watch out there is danger up ahead."

It is difficult to raise your children to always do what is right because they suffer from the same thing that we do.  It is called "Lack of will power."

Some of us can deal with it and grow our will power into great walls of protection while others of us cave in and allow Satan to run all over us. 

I am thankful that I have been adopted by an understanding God who knows what it is like to be tempted because of the temptation His Son Jesus went through here on earth.  I have not always been the wall I would like to have been and yes, having godly parents would have been great as a young child while I was growing up.  However, the things that were instilled in my subconsciousness because of the lack of God in my life till I was in my teens was a difficult part of overcoming the temptations I have face throughout the years.  Not an excuse, just an observation on my part.

I am responsible for the way I choose to live my life and many times I have failed to be what I needed to be.  I have paid for my raising but not as badly as it could have been.  My children are wonderful and I am certainly proud of them, even though they make mistakes just like I did.  But, it doesn't change how I feel about being God's child, adopted and taught a better way. 

I guess the best part of all of this is the fact that when I look back and see the horrible mistakes that I have made, and some of you know what they are, I can honestly say, "I may have to pay for my raising, but Jesus paid for my mistakes." 

We all make those wrong choices.  It's time we just admit it, move on and allow forgiveness to flow.  I am not a good person by accident.  Jesus died to free me of my wrongs and my bad decisions.  That doesn't make me good but it does make me forgiven.  He paid for my mistakes.  He loves me anyway.  He will be at my right hand when ever I am in need. 

Wow, what a payment!