Too Much Too Soon

In the Dallas Morning News, Steve Blow wrote an outstanding column about kids who have been given too much, too soon. He referred to a column that he had written 10 years earlier about kindergarten parents who had pooled their money and arranged for a limousine to take their children home from their first day of school. In the column he said that hiring a limousine ought to be one of those splurges reserved for wedding days. This should not happen on a kindergartener’s first day of school. He went on to say, "…We must show a little restraint here, folks. If all the other parents jumped off a cliff, would you jump off a cliff, too?"

In the Thursday column, he says that there is really no mystery to permissive parenting. It is a lot easier to do this than to say "no." It is tough to be a parent–if you are not a permissive parent. It is so much easier to look the other way.

It is so much easier to rationalize.  ("They can drink in our house–we will take their car keys.")

It is so much easier to dismiss and overlook.   ("I think that you are making a big deal out of nothing. I don’t see a problem.")

It is a lot easier to threaten, fuss, and yell and then cave in.  ("Ok, ok, go ahead and do it!")

When a loving parent says "no" to what is wrong, immoral, unethical, etc., that parent is teaching.   He/She is showing that child that doing right is more important that feeling good at the moment.

God says "no" to us all about certain behaviors that are destructive to us and dishonoring to him. At the time, his "no" may feel unpleasant for us. His "no" may get in the way of our desires and schemes.  We may feel like he is holding us back from experiencing terrific pleasure.  Yet, our Father can be trusted. His "no" may be the best thing that we could hear. In fact, at times, maybe God’s love and mercy is best seen in his willingness to say "no."