We have been talking with Coop a lot about his heart. What good is it to have a child who obeys when he does not have a heart for God? When he doesn't understand that his behavior is much more than doing what mommy and daddy say? This has been the topic of discussion at our house a lot lately.
The last thing we want to do is raise our children in a legalistic home where it's all about do's and don'ts and following rules. If it's not an intrinsic desire for them to do what is right, then they will all but rebel the first chance they get. Yikes! Sooooo...we have been talking about the fruit of the Spirit A LOT! Fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) is what a believer in Christ bears. It is the result of the Holy Spirit's work inside each of us. It's a way that we can begin dialogue with Cooper about the things that GOD desires for him to display. There have been some really sweet moments where he is starting to "get it."
With all that said, we have been thinking through some different discipline ideas for Coop. As a parent, discipline is always evolving as children are always changing! Oh how I wish I could just figure it out once! Can I get an AMEN?? We have been doing a rewards system with Coop for behavior at school, church, being a kind friend, etc. with rocks and a treasure box that I can expound on later if anyone is interested..... But the more I started thinking about it, the more I realized that we desire for Coop to do what is right (be kind to his friends, gentle with his brother, patient when he's bored (we hear about this one a lot..."I'm borrreeeddd"), to love those God puts in his path, etc.) because that what the Lord requires of him. Thank goodness for a sovereign GOD dwelling in us that is completing the good work He started! I can't imagine being kind or loving on my own...what a train wreck! And how much more for a 5 year old to have self-control without the Spirit.....impossible!
So we decided to make a little box with all the fruit of the Spirit written on the side and each time we saw Cooper acting kind towards someone, being gentle, having joy, being under control (rare, but it happens;), or loving someone well, we would write it down on a little piece of paper with the day and a description of what happened. It was so fun to open up the box at the end of the week and to share them as a family and to express all the wonderful character qualities that we saw in Coop. He was so proud and I love that it is an intrinsic reward rather than a little toy from the dollar spot at Target that he plays with for a day (although there is a time and place for those too;).
I love you Cooper Rumley. You are a world changer and our prayer is that you will let God use you to do just that, be an ambassador for Christ. I pray you will love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I am so proud to be your Mommy and I look forward to all that the Lord has in store for your life!
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven....For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the Truth." 3 John 1:4
If you have any wonderful discipline ideas, I would love to hear about them, as I'm sure everyone else would too:) Feel free to share them in the comments or post about them on your blog (just leave me your blog address so I can take notes;)
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