What a wonderful and useful post. I'll be applying these to my everyday life immediately. However, one of these points made me initially
slightly uneasy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Des
4. "Why can't you be more like your brother?" Keep their competative levels high by constantly comparing them to their siblings.
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Now, my eldest, Matt certainly is a wonderful example to his siblings and I have frequently compared his brothers to Matt's immaculate composure. But then there is the second eldest, Mark.
It is painful to confess that it has not been easy with Mark. He's never shown interest to guns, hunting or marriage and - I'm most ashamed - I always thought he showed some tendencies of
Socratic love. Homeric tendencies. Things were not going well and I could really not say to the young 'uns Luke and John that they should be like Mark. Things were very tense at home with Mark and I felt that my own teenage experimentation with Platonic issues was punished by giving me
a pervert son.
But
prayer is ALWAYS effective.
Hebrews 11:40
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Mark's life has turned to the better. I'm telling this to encourage our Brethren to get
mentors to our sons who show homeristic characteristics. Mark has been all but adopted by an elderly gentleman, who has resisted the lures of fornication for his whole life and remains
unmarried. He's into the high arts, including the opera and visual arts. Mark has become his assistant and practically lives with his mentor now. There is even a
gun collection apparently, as Mark spends hours taking care of and polishing the weapon of this man. I am so thankful to this gentleman and Jesus. AND - I can now say with confidence to
Luke and John that they should be like their brother Mark. I can even chastise Matt by referring to his younger brother now. Jesus provides and Satan has lost one adolescent whom he tried to seduce into Greek love.
(Baby Paul is less than one year old and I have not yet talked to him, he's annoying).
James 1:9
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
Yours in Christ,
Elmer