Parenting by Design - January 12
People Pleasing
Luke 4:28-29: All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff (NIV).
Jesus received some adulation during His life on earth, but He was the object of people's contempt as well. Shortly after being praised in the region of Galilee, He was dramatically rejected in His hometown of Nazareth.
People are fickle. No matter how hard we try, we will never be able to please everyone all the time. This can include our children as well. Many parents are intimidated by their children's anger and, in an effort to please them, they may compromise on boundaries and consequences. This rarely results in the respect or admiration they are seeking, however. Instead, they get more anger and entitlement.
God asks us to focus on Him by being faithful to what He has called us to do. The most effective way to please your children is to please God.
