The Repentance of a Little Rebel

Thank you, Lord, for the other day’s wonderful opportunity to show my granddaughter the importance of obeying-- and the consequences of disobedience. Most of all, I thank you for the evident softening of her little heart toward me as I demonstrated your love -- hatred toward the sin, but love toward the little sinner.

She was very disobedient this afternoon. I had just finished telling all the girls they could go outside AFTER I put their little brother down for a nap. Two of them waited obediently (if not patiently;) for permission to leave the house. However, the strong-willed one decided she could not wait. Out she went-- against my instructions. I quickly called her back inside. She threw quite a tantrum, but I was determined to teach her there are consequences to disobedience and disrespect. I did not get angry with her and made sure she knew this. Simply and calmly, I told her she must obey and must learn there are consequences to disobedience.

She was not allowed to go out until I gave her permission… and the permission would not come as long as she was behaving badly. A short time later—once the other two girls had gone outside and our little fellow was down for a nap-- I went into the room with the toys where our little rebel sat quietly. I looked at her and I said, “I love you.” She said nothing, but turned her back on me. Then I spoke to her quietly as I let her long hair slide through my fingers and said to her, ‘If you still want to go outside, you may go now.’ She got up and headed for the door. Then she stopped... turned around... and came back to me with a big smile on her beautiful face and she wrapped her little arms around me in a big hug. I didn’t expect this, so it truly filled my heart with joy.

Thank you Lord for doing such a work in my heart.. helping me to show not only hatred for the sin that you hate- but also love for the little sinner you love. Not only this, but the reward that comes from obedience and the evidence of grace wrought in a little rebel’s heart. Earlier that day, I had explained to the girls the meaning of repentance. They tried to understand… but I don’t think they quite got it. I believe it will become clearer to them as they grow and continue to experience consequences of wrong behavior -- and realize the necessity of doing what is right. I pray they come to a good understanding of this at an early age so they will not have to suffer the terrible consequences that can come from major transgressions to God’s law.

I will add here that my ‘little rebel’ behaved more like a ‘little lady’ for the rest of that day :)

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