My children have started a band....a very loud one indeed. They each have their own individual instruments all of which include a keyboard, guitar, bongos, several overturned containers and LOT of sticks. There is also one conductor of the group. Any guess who it is? Jessica likes to lead the group in her own way of “we are doing this” and “don’t do that’s”. In a band of children eight years old and younger, you can imagine everyone basically beats to the tune of their own music, which is apparently made up in their head, the music only a mom can be proud of. I am sure the music can creep up to noise measurements that even those in space can here.
However; I have been watching my older two take piano lessons. Jessica, particularly, has really grown and enjoyed it. She practices every day on her own accord and it gives her something that is her very own. Watching her bang on the piano months ago to seeing her actually play the notes and sing the little song that goes with the music melts this momma’s heart. She is reading and following the music of that which has been written before her, and it is in order, it sounds melodic, and it is beautiful.
God always seems to teach us through our children. He pierced my heart while watching the ever so funny but loud chaotic sounds of children following the beat of their own drum and then watching a child follow well written music to perform a beautiful song. Now, the loud beats of their own music is music to my ears because it is creativity coming from my children that also provokes laughter in the moment. However; there is something to be said about the music that comes from written form, practiced on and played beautifully.
God breathes in His word :
Train up a child in the
way he should go,
And when he is old
he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
The word train means to make proficient with specialized instruction and practice. Parents, what we do every day is eternal. From changing diapers, to dealing with temper tantrums, to dealing with talk back.....it is still eternal. How we react, is eternal. It is what we teach them ourselves. They will dance to the beat of their own drum and only because that is all they know what to do without formal training. The definition goes with the scripture in such a way that it shows specialization. Each child is different and it is good practice to train, discipline and guide each child as they are individually set for their own paths in the Lord. We should be able to identify strengths and weaknesses within our children and work on those individually all the while discovering who it is God wants them to be. They are precious in God’s eyes....yes, even when they are in full blown temper tantrum mode, they are precious. The definition also goes past just giving instruction. Practice goes along with all training. Practice is teaching your child and doing it over and over again so that their reaction is the training you have given them in the situation. Make sense? I am going to call out Jake here. Jake has always been a grumpy little fella. Most know him as my fun loving dancing 8 year old. However, when things do not go his way, he pouts, shouts or cries. It has gotten better over the years as I have shown him his behavior, why it is bad, and what he could have done. I just did not tell him when he was three to stop yelling at his siblings, we have worked hard and constant on the practice of putting that anger aside and using his words. We are not there yet and I still have to find truth that I throw my little temper tantrums every now and then too. It is a process, and living in this world, not one that will be complete until we stand with Jesus.
Parents, as cute as it is to see and hear your children form a band and beat to the tune of their own music, it is not so fun watching it lived out as others are raising our children and the world pours into them what we are not. We are to grab a hold of them during the time we have them in the evening after school, as we drive in the car, take a walk, or just cuddle time and train them in the way they should go. To do this we have to know our children and pour our lives into them. Train them and practice putting off the bad and putting on the good. The fruit from this is amazing and eternal. The music they will play in their lives when they get older will be their own as God intended but will be based upon righteous training. And as I have discovered, music with training is much more melodic and pleasing to the ears.
