1/25/18

Well here we are back again with a window into one area most of the boys are dealing with. I want to briefly talk and encourage you to do some more research and read through some sections in God's Word, that will allow you to stand strong on issues related to this matter.  The issue for today is our emotions.  Contrary to modern counseling methods and philosophy, our emotions are a gift from God and are meant to add color to life...not to determine our actions.  We have a society that believes if we are thinking something then we should shout it out for all to hear.  This goes against Scripture. We have made a saying "dont' bottle things up inside", but have given no real alternatives other than just venting.  We have been convinced to think that venting is healthy, and I chose venting as one example of an emotion that gets expressed, anger in the case of venting, but it could have been any emotion. In Proverbs we are told that "...a fool vents all of his feelings."  It is my desire to see the boys here (as well as my own son's) learn to think through the balance of allowing God's gift of chemicals in the brain to motivate, protect, and better handle life's circumstances, but not be controlled by these same chemicals.  I have said this before, but part of this comes back to dying to one's self.  The first emotional response we feel in a situation is often the wrong one to fully express.  A close encounter while driving will spark a chemical rush to the brain that heightens awareness and sharpens our senses, but to let out a scream while driving, and to panic, would be counter productive. At the house I try and help the boy's handle the everyday details in the same manner. Don't get over excited about the small stuff, and don't "flip out" about the things that honestly won't matter in a mere day or so.  Having been married for 28 years I have come to understand that the emotions of marital love are much the same.  If we really spoke what we thought, or only acted in love and kindness when we felt like it... I think the divorce rate would go way up!  Like most married couples (I think) the emotion of romantic "love" comes and goes (sadly it often follows a sexual bell curve) and if I as a husband show my wife special attention (kind words, dotting behaviors, little notes) on  times when I emotionally feel like it...then again, not a pretty ending.  These kids here are no different.  John 3:3-7 speaks of dying to one's self, and put simply that just means not doing what you always want to do.  Learning to say no to your first impulse and putting another's needs/desires ahead of your own.  This is a tough thing to learn.  In today's society there are a lot of different "voices" pouring into the kids (and ours) heads about taking care of #1.  Themselves.  Always look out for your own best interest.  This is a very unbiblical worldview that has hurt our society.  Dying to self must be trained in.  Some people have been taught to "count to 3 or maybe 10" before responding to a situation, and that is helpful, but what if a person was taught to pray, to think about how their next action or reaction was either going to bring honor to Christ, or not.  That, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit are what enable us to live like there is a Heavenly agenda...because there is!  I hope this has encouraged you.

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