John ESENE

As members of one family, you are gifts to one another. Isaiah 48:17-18 says, “The Holy God of Israel, the Lord who saves you, says: ‘I am the Lord your God, the one who wants  to teach you for your own good and direct you in the way you should go. If only you had listened to my commands! Then blessings would have flowed you like a stream that never goes dry! Victory would have come to you like the waves that roll on the shores”.

Paul says in Eph. 5:28-29 “Men ought to love their wives just as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. No one ever hates his own body. Instead, he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ does the Church.” Why would you vent your anger on your partner right before your children?

A man and his family were seen as model by many who decided to emulate them as much as possible. But their profile dropped when his wife decided to make life unbearable for her family because of her husband’s attitude to her on her birthday.  When she was about to celebrate her birthday, he asked her what she expected from him on the D-Day. She wanted him to take just an hour-off-duty and buy her a new handset.

But the man had a mix-up in the office before the birthday and wanted to report on duty as early as possible without putting his wife in the Know. On that faithful morning, he almost shouted at her to get into the car so he could buy her the set. You may call it transferred aggression!

 

Your partner should be your closest friend after God: give him/her the benefit of doubt when a cloudy situation such as this occurs. Do not allow pride, ignorance, etc. to ruin the sweet relationship you built over the years. In marriage, there is need for a spouse to be conscious of his/her partner’s feelings and needs. There is need to pray on daily basis to God who ordains marriage to protect and preserve your marriage always for His glory and honor. Look unto God for He is ready to see you through. I have not seen any marriage without hiccups but when the man and his wife work together, they forge ahead easily.

 

The dog says, “You fall for me and I fall for you, that is how friendship should be. But if you make me fall always without you falling for me, I will fall out with you!” Learn to say, “I’m sorry” when you are wrong. Be a model to those around you. People are watching you: so, why not leave a legacy for them. It shall be well with you and your family.

When God wants you to move and you refuse, He will push you to where you should be. God sent Jonah to Nineveh but Jonah thought otherwise, and then God made sure His will was done. Clement was lucky to have married a very good wife who courageously forgave him when she caught him with Dora committing adultery in her home. God gave Agnes the courage to forgive him when the devil exposed him. But Jesus warned us to pray always not to fall into temptation! “What a wretched man I am, who will deliver me from body of death?” Rom 7:24. Whether things are going on well or not, there is need to pray always.

Eph 5: 33 says “But it also applies to you: every husband must love his wife as himself, and every wife must respect her husband”. He also said in Col. 3:18-21 “Wives, submit to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians. Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, which is what pleases God. Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged”

The man who beats up his wife before his children because of his lost money was solving the problem of today in a wrong way to create a bigger problem for his children, the future generations. Unless God intervenes, those children may grow up fighting their spouses.

“Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God” Mk10:14.  Children are special gifts from God to their parents. Parents should see themselves as care-takers to these children that God gave them. On judgment day, you will account for your relationship with your children. As a parent, it is your duty to direct your children to God and not to curse them. If God should curse us each time we offend Him, the entire humanity will be in a mess! A woman was about to kill her 10 years old child because she stole her N500.

Why would you openly tell your children how you cheated people or steal their belongings? Some business people even cheat their clients in the presence of their children thereby proving to them that cheating is not a sin. You are always in the habit of criticizing others before your little children: you are teaching them how to hate rather than love people. If you refuse to teach your children the way of the Lord, you will be held accountable for their misdeeds after all. If you confiscate other people’s possessions to the knowledge of your children, you are leading them astray. The Good shepherd does not lead his sheep astray but rather ensure he recovers his lost sheep.

Have your parents abandon you? Do not rebel against them for God will protect you all the way as you grow outside their care. For Jer 15:20 says, “ And  I will make you to this people a fortified wall  of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord.” Very soon, you too will be a parent. So, forgive your enemies and pray for them! Eph 5:1-2 says, “Since you are God’s dear children, you must try to be like Him. Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave His life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God”

When Jesus says yes in your life, nobody can say no! Be convince today that you are a child of God and prepare to encounter Him.  God took David, the shepherd boy and made him a king, Joseph the slave boy ( for 13 years) he made a minister in a foreign land.  Allow same God to lead you to where you and your child should be. May God bless and uplift you and your family.