Our Father . . . (A prayer interrupted -- or was it?)
I am going to meander for a moment or two. I was reading on another board about freedom from the law and the idea that Catholics still see God's laws as valid. Jesus told us that the entirety of the law must be fulfilled. Additionally, we are assured that law is made not for the righteous but actually for the sinner. What does all this mean? I was contemplating on all of this while I silently prayed:
"Our Father . . ."
"Mom, she took my CD book." my son (age 10) interrupted.
"You are supposed to be doing Math." I replied. "Our Father . . ."
"Mom, he is being mean." my 4 year old complained.
"You need to go clean up your room."
"No, I need help. It's too hard and he made the mess!" She countered.
"She needs to give me my CDs."
"You need to do your Math."
The hymn in unison: "But Mo-o-o-o-m . . . " (How kids can stetch out that three letter name.)
There was a great flurry of wailing against each other and the unfairness of having to do what I told them to do. Under the threat of great penalty, I laid down the law. As one went to clean up toys and the other went grumbling to his desk, I noticed that my 16 year old's room was already tidied and her schoolwork entered for my review. She had no need of the law because she had already accepted authority having grown to some maturity in the house of her parents.
I think I understand. The law is there to guide us in the ways of God until in maturity we seek the way of God naturally. May be why we are referred to as God's children because we so often rebel against adding up the things God's way or keeping our life in order by the avoidance of sin -- not needing to have the law laid down anymore but because we have matured in God's family and accepted His guidance as truth.
"Our Father . . . ," I began again, " . . Thank You."
