KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Learn
PICTURE THESE TWO situations, and then ask yourself how you would react -- what it would be like in your house...
Dad comes home after a busy day at the office to find Mom in the kitchen working on dinner. He comes up behind her, gives her a loving pat on the fanny, and then puts his arms around her. Mom doesn't say anything but struggles loose from him, turns, and glares in a way that says, "Do you mind! The children are watching!"
Second situation: Dad's behavior is exactly the same, only this time Mom turns around and gives him a warm welcome-home kiss -- right there in front of little Festus and Festina.
Now, in which situation did the children get the wrong message? You know, of course, that it was in the first situation, where Mom was so concerned about doing something "wrong" in front of the kids. In fact, that first reaction was the wrong one -- the reaction that says, "There will be no displays of affection in front of the children." You see, children are going to learn from you one way or the other. They may learn that it's okay for a husband and wife to love each other and to treat each other with tenderness and affection -- or they may learn that marriage is a battleground. But either way, they will learn. (Kevin Leman)
KneEmail: "You are the light of the world..." (Matt. 5:14a).