Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Favoritism (02/28/05)
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TITLE: "Mom Always Loved You Best!" | Previous Challenge Entry
By Suzanne Shepard
03/03/05 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
My own children went through a ‘Mom loves you best’ stage… for several years, in fact. When they told me about the fights they used to get into with each other when my back was turned, I flat-out denied my guilt.
“I do not play favorites.” I told them. “I love you children all the same.” I even felt a bit indignant that they would even suggest such a thing! How dare they question my parental integrity!
But, alas! The more I thought about it, the more loudly my conscience convicted me. “Guilty! Guilty, I say!” I had to hang my head in shame. They were right. I didn’t even have to ‘pretend’ that I didn’t have a clue who they were talking about because it was an easy guess.
It was my third born child. He was a sweet little, round-faced boy with big brown eyes, thick black hair and a smile that could warm any mother’s heart. He was my ‘compliant child’. He loved to cuddle and whatever I asked him to do, he always said, “Yes, Mommy”, and catered to my every beck and call.
When my oldest son challenged me on the issue, I curtly pointed out his faults. I did the old “point the finger’ trick and tried to shift the blame in his direction.
“If you weren’t so mouthy, maybe that would change things a bit. I only treat him differently because he doesn’t sass me every time I turn around.” I was quick to throw the ball back into his court.
“And maybe if you were a little more respectful and didn’t push me to the edge of my wits all the time. Maybe if you’d change your defiant attitude….”
How dare he accuse me of being a bad parent! After all, he was the child and children are just supposed be seen and not heard…right?
Besides, even if I did sort of play favorites, it can’t be all that bad because God does it all the time, doesn’t He? All through the Bible, I have read stories about how He showed His favor to His people. It was obvious to me that Father God played favorites all the time. So it must be okay for me too! Right?
Ahhh, I don’t THINK so! Perhaps I was mistaken…just maybe there were some very important things I was misunderstanding.
If I read the scriptures accurately, they actually say in Romans 2:1; “For God does not show favoritism.” (NIV) And again, James tells me in Chapter 2:1; “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” (NIV) Verse 9 goes on to say, “But if you show favoritism, you sin…” (NIV)
“OUCH!” That sure changes the light bulb in my socket!
I think I can safely say that I had surely misunderstood, or misinterpreted a very important part of God’s holy character. What I was misconstruing as Him ‘playing favorites’, was actually Him graciously bestowing His Divine favor on those who loved Him and obeyed His words. It’s actually a blessing that is laid on our lives every time we choose to honor Him above all others.
Unfortunately, I cannot go back and undo the mistakes of my past. I can, however, learn from them and go forward by humbly asking for the Father’s forgiveness, studying the Scriptures and requesting the ever-present help of the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and guidance for the future.
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Your story was very well written, you did a great job! God bless!