Obedience

Last night my husband and I sat down to look at our house rules and make up a list of things we want to work on with our children. In the end we realized that what we want more than anything else is simply obedience. Everything else we wrote on our list seemed to fit into that category anyway. No running in the house.......treat others with kindness.......use words instead of hitting.....clean up after yourself......these are all all important house "rules", but none of it will do any good with out the simple act of obedience on their part.

This made me look this morning at what "rules" the Lord has been trying to establish with me. ......honor my husband.....serve my family selflessly with a joyful heart.....no complaining....spend less money each pay day.....control anger and irritation......Am I being obedient?

Obedience is not always easy but it is always worth it. Obedience to God always brings reward. Deuteronomy 28 spells out the rewards promised to those who obey the Lord, and then the cursing of those who do not. I know which side of that plan I want to be on!!

In the end my husband and I decided that in addition to consequences for disobedience we want to have a reward system for obedience. We came up with a plan to have obedience jars where they will have a certain number of beads each. Throughout they day when they are not obedient (obedience being...the first time asked with out whining, complaining or delay) they have to take out a bead and bring it to us. At the end of the week there will be a reward for those who have a certain amount of beads left in their jar. It got late so we didn't get to work out all the details just yet, but the idea is there and we will work on it more tonight.