"N": Walk Toward The Music

      Last week Cara masterly talked about the power of music.  Music is a treasure in each of our lives, often a gift from The Lord.  It soothes, ministers, provokes memories negatively and positively, and often sets the mood for all numbers of tasks for the day.  For instance, when I shop, if the music is a decant and harsh, I’m done. But, if it is ‘right on’ I’m inwardly dancing and willing to purchase.  At the beach this year, the man next door asked if he would bother us by playing music. We said No! So, we all danced and sang, inside and outside, joyously.  So, you could say music is odd, playful, searching, joyous or perplexing setting and settling all manner of ‘life’.

      There is also another aspect of music, one in which musical notes are not involved. You know, when someone says, "well, you will just have to face the music."  That type of music can be good or not so good. It’s when life is positive or negative.  I’ve been thinking a lot about ‘walking toward the music’.  When the music of life isn’t pleasant, I often don’t want to look at or listen to what is happening, and often, I prefer to ignore it all together.

      Because parenting is continual, I’ve been wondering how does ‘walking toward the music’ affect parenting?  I have about decided it depends on what we want the end product to be. What do you want your child to be, or look like when that child no longer resides day-to day with you?  I’m not talking occupation- I’m talking heart and mind.  

What do you want your child to look like at the end of the day? 

What do you want the musical melody of everyday living to look like after 18 or so years of living together as a family? 

Think about the end product. What does the heart need to look like to reflect The Lord?   What type of music do you want your child or children’s heart to produce?

A heart that is-----

Compassionate or hard

Wise or foolish

Giving or tight fisted

Loving or mean spirited

Patient or angry

Kind or selfish

Self-controlled or out of control

The list could go on and on...

      When you think about what the Lord wants for your child, work backwards.  Each day and... really each hour becomes important. But, that is when I realize I can’t do this alone.  Only The Lord can do this type of work. So, I ask and ask and ask.  James 1 says the way to receive wisdom is simply …ask.  Ask Him! Where is this behavior going to lead? What are the results if I don’t address this, if I don’t ‘walk towards the music’?

        I try to let The Lord teach me, in order for me to guide and teach.  I have to ask, even to this day, "HELP ME, I can’t do this myself."  So, I find myself praying as I speak and asking for His wisdom and discernment constantly. I do know, from Isaiah 30: 20-21 ,"whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

     I hold onto many promises in The Word including Proverbs 22:6---“Train a child in the way he/she should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Life is ALWAYS on the go and I’m realizing that as I ‘walk towards the music’ I’m really walking towards His Grace, His Mercy, and His accountability which I need constantly!!!!

N.

Isaiah 59:21

"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants--from this time on and forever," says the LORD.