Sin. It's so ugly. Elizabeth can just now articulate her disobedience, rather than act it out (though oftentimes it's both). We didn't have to teach her to be a sinner. It's her nature.
And it would be self-righeous of me to stop here and just talk about her sin and not my own. So, I won't. I, too, am selfish, impatient, angry. I know part of what she has learned about sin, she's learned from me. Perhaps that's the thing I hate the most. She is just like me. Our sins, though manifested differently, are very much the same. We are hardheaded, prideful, self-centered cry-babies. We get angry when things don't go our way.
Sweet, Elizabeth, I'm no better than you. When I sing, "we are weak, but he is strong," I mean we, with all my heart. Mama is weak. She is sinful. She needs Jesus. When I see you (and your sister) in all your neediness, I don't stop there. I see my own neediness. I can't make you obey, no matter how much I discipline you. Only Jesus can grace you to see me wise in the gospel. Only He can create in you a new heart. Not Mama.
I love you, but He loves you more. He has done far more than what Mama could ever do for you. He can give you a new heart, despite your sinful nature. He is gracious and good, and cleaning dirty hearts is His expertise.
1 comment:
Beautifully said Melissa! Noah is only 17months and every day he reveals more and more to me my own sinful nature. He's helping me work on my sanctification!
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