a cape made of truth

Who was that masked stranger?? Bam! Biff! Wham! Splat! That conversation ricocheted back at me and hit me like a vintage action-packed television show!

What was it? There I was just minding my business and those of mine as well, lol!, thinking that I was just doing my job, and rather than receiving kudos in appreciation for my stalwart loving and concern, I was met with resistance. Well! Resistance is futile earthllng. lol

But seriously, do they not yet understand that it is in the promise spoken in Romans 9:8, "That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." The promise is about living eternally in and with Jesus and who is who and who gets what.

I pondered if I should have kept my mouth shut. That was my flesh thinking. The Spirit Man in me spoke up as I replayed the scene in my thoughts as the tune "I Can See Clearly Now" played in the background. He bolstered my angst that with age comes a lot of wisdom of what does not work. I took it a step further, and I asked God about all of it.

And crickets were heard.

I waited. Life resumed. I waited a little more. And then! I read a question on a forum asking "is it okay to disinherit certain family members from one's will for any reason?" I pondered on this and the quote, "with great power comes great responsibility" which is widely attributed to the character Uncle Ben in comic books published by Marvel Comics featuring Spider-Man came to my mind. True. And the more one accumulates, the more power is assumed and held as control over others. Money, and possessions, are not the root of all evil. The devil is. Money, and possessions are just the tool it uses.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 12:14, "Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.," which gives credence to the right course of action per God's will of inheritance.

But what if one child did more?

But what if there was an estrangement?

But what if one, or even none of them, followed God's other command coming from Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” ?

The reasonings do not matter. Why? Because as it continues in verse 4, "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." And in this, I heard God's answer...

Wrath? Nope. Admonition? Yes. The definition of admonition is advice or mild criticism. Asking someone to be cautious is an example of an admonition. Admonition in the bible is used in 1 Corinthians 10:11 regarding temptations, and in Ephesians 6:4 on not exasperating our children (and are not exasperation and puberty synonymous? lol) ,; and in Titus 3:10,"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them" or basically hand them off to God and pray harder, of that which is to be administered for the correction of one who creates trouble in the church. Our homes are our first church.

So speak up so they can hear you in the back and its even-Steven on the spoils of this earthly war and enjoy the other side when it comes to you. And God will sort out their conduct with a "come-to-Jesus-meeting".

After all, "Romans 9:8, "That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." My ancestors claimed their lineage for God. I am not just a cog in this holy wheel, but a willing participant.

Parting thought... most know of the prodigal's son story. Little is mentioned of how his behavior affected his family... But God knows. And God dealt with it.

And of course, all of mine are the best ever!! As I know yours are!! :)