When my kids were younger, homework was our least favorite part of the school year. It felt like we could not get through a weekday afternoon without a homework meltdown. What used to frustrate me most was when one of the kids asked for help and then argued with me about the advice I gave. It sounded something like this…
(Kid) “Mom, why do I keep getting this subtraction problem wrong?”
(Me) “You need to write it out, don’t try to do it in your head.”
(Kid)“I don’t want to write it out!!! It will take too long. My hand is tired. I HATE HOMEWORK!!!!”
(Me)“ Well, you asked me why you keep getting the problem wrong. TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE IT OUT AND GET IT RIGHT, OR DO IT IN YOUR HEAD AND GET IT WRONG!IF YOU FAIL MATH AND CAN’T GO TO COLLEGE AND END UP LIVING IN A CAR, DON’ T BLAME ME!!!”
Sound familiar? I was thinking about how much it bothers me when my kids did this to me, and then I realized that I do the same thing to my dad. My heavenly Dad, that is! Oh, the times that I have found myself with a problem I couldn’t solve, asked God to help me with it and then argued with Him about what he told me to do. “But, God…that’s too hard, it will take too long, can’t you just fix it for me?” I can only imagine what God is thinking when I tell Him…the Creator of heaven and earth, the Author of my life…that His answer is just not going to work for me. I’m just thankful that He is far more patient and gracious with me than I was as my kid’s homework helper. I’m also thankful that, unlike my kids with their math homework, I have the answer key for my problems—the Bible. Proverbs 3:5 ~“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
