Love, Life, Pursuit  

Show Notes

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 5/28/2009 6:54 PM UTC

  I need some advice on making someone realize Love.
  

  I have a friend that needed some advice, and I want to see if you all
  agree with the advice that was offered up.
  
  You see, she has a son, and, being that he was born and created out of
  her, I'm sure we all understand that she has an extreme love for him,
  and only wants his happiness.
  
  So as we all know, the new PS3 came out recently, and her son really
  wanted one, so she went out and got him one immediately. She gave him
  the PS3 and the only rule she gave him was to not leave the game on
  when he was gone and not playing it, which he agreed to, and he was
  very appreciative.
  
  Excited about his new toy, he was playing it and having fun, but she
  saw that he wasn't fully experiencing the game the way that he should.
  So she went out and got him some more controllers and multiplayer
  games so he could play with his friends. He and his friends were
  playing recently and while she was leaving, and while gone, he was
  convinced to leave his game on over night so that they could pick up
  where they left off the next day.
  
  She comes home that night and finds that the game is on, and she is
  upset with her son. She gave him all that he wanted and only gave him
  1 rule to follow and that wasn't enough for him. So question 1, what
  would you do if you were her?
  
  So she takes the game from him, and instead of selling, or giving it
  away, or giving to another son, she provides ways for him to earn it
  back. She would not have been wrong for taking any of the afore
  mentioned actions, but because she loves her son so much, and wants
  him to be happy and have what she has for him, she provides
  opportunities for him to get it back, even if he may not deserve it.
  
  So first, she sends her husband to him, and they talk, and his father
  gives him advice, and shows him proof of what he has to do to get his
  game back, but he hears it, and starts to take action, but ultimately
  doesn't heed the advice.
  
  Next, she goes and talks to his friends, and tells several different
  friends what he should do in order to get the game back. They give him
  different instances at school and in the playground, telling him if he
  did certain things like pack his lunch for the week and not buy his
  lunch, clean his room without being told, and help out around the
  neighborhood, that will show responsibility and allow him to access
  his game. While if he did not do these things, they would show he did
  not care and learn anything and he would lose his allowance, go to bed
  early, and get more chores.
  
  He ignored the advice and guidance of his friends, and everything that
  was said, did happen. One day, while speaking to his mother, he
  mentioned that she was being unfair, and she stated that he had
  several opportunities to get it right, but did not listen. He then
  states to give him one last opportunity by using his brother, and she
  states that you had several warnings and opportunities before hand and
  that didn't help you, so his brother certainly would not.
  
  Finally, in a last ditch effort to reach her son, my friend took her
  son's 12 year old baby sister's favorite doll when she did nothing
  wrong at all. She in fact, took the doll and gave it away in front of
  her daughter, and her daughter was being teased and ridiculed by her
  brother, who she was suffering this torture for. She however did not
  cry, wine, or complain. She said that she understood why it was
  happening and that it needed to happen for her brother to understand
  what he needed to do and get his game back.
  
  After this whole ordeal was completed, I spoke with her son.  He told
  me that he understands what happened, he was sorry, and that he didn't
  want to hurt his mom and sister, and that he loved them both. He
  boldly and clearly stated that to me, however, he still does not do
  the things that his sister showed him or that his mother had
  instructed. But he, till this day, is quick to say that he is sorry
  and obeys them, yet his actions show other wise, unless he is in need
  of something. When he wants his little sister to clean for him, he is
  nice and loving then, but in his every day life, his true beliefs are
  obvious. He also blames his mother and sister when he needs a favor
  because he's in a jam because of his wrongdoing, and they do not
  assist him. And till this day, she still has his PS3.
  
  Now is it me, or is he off his rocker. This kid, I tell you, I wanted
  to take out back and give him an old school talking to, like I used to
  get. But suddenly, this whole ordeal came into clear focus for me. You
  see, we can look at that young man, and see his faults, and
  selfishness, and lack of appreciation for his mothers love. But the
  reality of that situation is, this exact scenario is what plagues many
  of us today.
  
  What do I mean? I mean, several of us, like the boy, walk around
  feeling entitled to whatever we want, and aren't willing to sacrifice
  anything to get what will truly make us happy. Instead of the young
  man just owning up and apologizing and making it right by obeying his
  mother, he wanted to do what he wanted to do, and ignore every piece
  of advice that she has given. He would even attempt to deceive a
  situation by altering a rule to make what he wants to do fall in the
  parameters. For instance, he would state that he turned the TV off
  when he left the game on, so that should make it ok. He seeks
  loopholes and short cuts, when all they leave you is in a hole and
  short of what you want. If he can just follow the instructions and the
  advice given to him, he would have what it is that he wants and be a
  better person.
  
  But, like so many of us in today's society, he refuses to simply
  listen to what was given to him, for his best interest. There is a
  principle that makes listening to advice given to you so hard, and it
  is simply and easily recognized at the very root as a refusal to
  submit.
  
  Submission is a vital part to several very important aspects of life,
  and ironically, society makes it something that is almost impossible
  to do. Although there are several of life issues this deals with, I
  will only address one at the moment; and that one is the ability to
  learn. You see, when we submit, we are acknowledging that someone is
  more superior than we are, therefore, you learn, due to acknowledging
  that you do not know something and the teacher or professor is
  superior to you in that certain area. This principle of submission
  applies to any learning situation. Think about it, when someone you
  think you are smarter than or superior to tries to tell you something,
  or if you are learning on a subject that you feel you have superior
  knowledge about, you are not as open as you are to something or
  someone you know nothing about, therefore, learning is hindered. So
  now we see how crucial and powerful submission is, meanwhile society
  beats into us that submission means you are weak.
  
  That is so funny to me, because there is a semi new sport with growing
  popularity and it is two superior men, in a ring, going toe to toe.
  Now before the fight, these are two of the baddest men in the world,
  and no one knows who is going to win, but they are both two superior
  men. Now, when the fight begins, these two men commence to beating
  each others brains and bodies in, and in most cases the battle ends
  when one of these two superior men submits to the other one to keep
  from being further injured. And when the fight is over, one is
  declared winner, and one is declared loser, but neither are considered
  weak. The warrior that lost is a very superior man, he just submitted
  to someone more superior to keep from experiencing unnecessary
  suffering.
  
  Now you see, if we can get this principle of submission down, we too
  can keep from experiencing unnecessary suffering. What am I referring
  to? In my friend's situation above, I would like you to make a few
  substitutions to bring this all home. Take out my friend and put in
  GOD. Take out her son and put in Man (which includes us). Take out the
  husband and put in the Moses' and Abraham's of the bible. Take out his
  friends, and put in the prophets of the bible. Take out his sister,
  and put in Jesus Christ.
  
  Now does it hit a little more close to home. God clearly wants us to
  have what He has for us, what we want for ourselves, and what our
  hearts desire. But we fail to heed the warnings, and submit to his
  will, for so many inferior reasons. Reasons like I know what's best
  for me, God knows my heart, or I'm saved so my sins are forgiven. All
  of these reasons do nothing but keep you separated from your PS3, when
  all God wants is for you show him that you really want and appreciate
  it. I am commonly amazed by how much we think we know, being more apt
  to rely on limited knowledge from a matter of decades here on earth
  with limited experiences versus submitting to the will of God, who
  created it all and has been here since it all began.
  But, then again, that submission thing is a powerful principle.
  
  Here is my challenge to you; truly, truly, give God's will a try.
  Submit to him, give him your life, the same way you do a stranger
  pilot when you get on an airplane, or a driver of a vehicle that you
  are asleep in. He knows what's best for you, now just let him give it
  to you. Anything that you are going to do, ask yourself would God
  approve and be honest in answering. And if you don't know the answer,
  surround yourself with people that do. Do not go through unnecessary
  suffering for failure to submit to God. Just tap out and let's go get
  our PS3's. God Bless You.
  
  • Tags:
  • God
  • forgiveness
  • adam and eve
  • sin
  • faith
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