Listen and Obey

The words "listen and obey" are words I'm using a lot these days. My son, after all, just turned three. He came through the "terrible twos" without being terrible at all, to speak of, but his independence - and the stubbornness that goes with it - has been kicking into higher gear recently.

He loves Jana Alayra music, and knows the lyrics which talk about how we "choose this day" whether or not we will "listen and obey." So, I find myself citing those familiar words quite frequently as remind him that he needs to be attentive and obedient to the instructions his Mommy and I give him.

Obviously, an attentive and obedient child is a lot easier to live with. It's easier to protect him, care for him, enjoy him, and get out the door to church on time - when he listens and obeys!

But it hit me the other day that this whole theme of listening and obedience goes way beyond my own parenting convenience. It goes way beyond me as his father.

I realized that, in my own relationship with the Lord, I still have to face the continual choice whether or not to "listen and obey." Listening can be quite a challenge, since the Lord's voice directing my own life journey isn't quite as clear as me saying, "Come wash your hands" to my son. Listening requires attention to the Lord's leading, and a willingness to hear whatever it is He might be saying. Obedience is a challenge too. I'm not so different from my son, after all. I get my own mind and heart set on something, and I often want to keep doing what I want to do rather than align myself to the Lord and His plans.

So, as I teach Davey Will to "listen and obey," it's not just about being a "good little boy," as important as that might be. It's about learning a skill that he will need to apply the rest of his life as he learns to walk with the Lord - saying no to self and personal inclinations, attending to His leading, and committing himself to follow even when it's not easy or comfortable.

I can't say I'm the best example to Davey Will of listening and obeying, but I've got new perspective on why it's so important. For both of us!