Consequence Is Not a Dirty Word
- Abbey Parsley
- Oct 10, 2024
- 3 min read
“If we don’t apply the things that can change us in a positive way, well, we’ll never change in a positive way”
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 NIV
One day not long ago, (like the last full week of summer break), I was at my wit’s end. All summer, we had worked on trying to mold our children into being able to do basic household chores and maintenance. Not even “extra” chores, just things to maintain our day-to-day lives. And everyday it was a battle, with constant reminders to pick up after themselves, put laundry away, do the dishes. Like literally, people, basic things to be human beings. So on this special day I had clarity (I did not step into my Mayor of Rantville role, see devo Unfiltered Salt for reference). I was done with the nagging, begging, pleading, to help. I left them a list on the counter of what needed to be accomplished before they could set eyes on any screen in the house. The consequences were very clear: if I came home to these things not completed, no screens for a week, which includes TV. This would equal complete and utter boredom for their last week of summer break. Stare at a wall, each other, whatever.
I’ll give you one guess on the outcome. I walked in the door, and they were scrambling to get a couple of the things accomplished, leaving the rest of the list untouched. So I officially dished out the consequence. Quite optimistically the youngest asked “I’m sorry. What can we do to lessen the length of the consequence?”
Oh, man! That hit me right on the forehead. I do this to God. He disciplines me for my good to try to teach me something, to better my heart, to better my life, to get me to a changed place. But still I ask Him, “What can I do to not be in this consequence? Father, please make this go away.”
“Fools describe wisdom and instruction.” Does that not describe what I just asked of God? Oof!
So after this revelation, I answered my youngest: “You can’t change the consequence because you wouldn’t learn anything if we did that. And the best apology is changed behavior. Application is 90% of life. If we don’t apply the things that can change us in a positive way, well, we’ll never change in a positive way.”
So here we all are, sitting in our consequences so that we can learn and grow and change.
Action Steps:
Write down what consequences God might be dishing out to you that you aren’t fully recognizing. Ok now write down the consequences you KNOW God is dishing out to you, but you might be asking to be relieved of.
Take that list and ask God for clarity in what He is trying to change in you, your heart, your mama-ing.
Prayer: Oh Father, thank You for being patient with me. It’s like I touch a hot stove, it burns me, but I keep touching the hot stove asking You to not make the stove hot. Instead of me doing what I’ve always done, help me to learn from the consequences of my behavior, showing me Your ways. Let my perspective be that consequence is a changed life and not a dirty word, it’s out of love and for my good. Yes and Amen.
Written by Abbey, former mayor of Rantville, mom of 3