Parenting Series: Mercy

 Do you know what mercy is?

Mercy is "tenderheartedness and compassion toward someone in need" (Tripp p. 195) 

Mercy is "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm."  (google)

When I was growing up I was taught that mercy was "unmerited favour". 

Mr. Tripp asks us to remember what it is, and to also remember, how much we need mercy in our own lives. Can you remember how important mercy is to you in your own walk with the Lord.

Now .. holding that in your mind.  Think about your children. 



Now.. think back to the beginning of this series when we learned about how we should see ourselves as ambassadors.  Parents who represent God to their children. 

So how can you show mercy to your children as you are shown mercy by God?

1. By remembering the mercy you have received.  How God convicts us for our poor actions changing our hearts so that we can better parent our children. 

2. Mercy drives our hearts in compassion to help our children, so we can show them Christ at every opportunity, which helps us show them what is going on in their heart, which helps us leave what must be left to God. 

3. Mercy drives us to admit our failings, to confess them before God and, when needed, before our children. 

4. Mercy requires us root all we say in scripture, relying on God's words to see us through.  Taking advantage of the opportunities he places before us.

5. Mercy calls us to be slow to anger and ever so quick to forgive.   I have to admit... This one is hard!  Oh it is, I've got a quick temper...but I have an equally quick forgiveness bar.  It is so easy to forgive and let things fall to the past.  I need God to help me show grace BEFORE I get angry about things.... oh how I need him in this. 

6. Seeing mercy in action does something odd you know... (at least for me).  Seeing mercy in action calls me to prayer more than anything else.  God has given me grace upon grace and it is SO not deserved....so it helps me to see my need for more grace and mercy so that I can be a better parent to my lad. 

Be a parent of mercy.
Show your children the Lord God who loves you.
And you will be a better parent.
Really.  :)

Thanks for joining me as I went through Parenting by David Paul Tripp, in the next week or so I'll be introducing another book.  Which one I'm not entirely certain yet.

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