While reading a blog post on teaching diligence to children, I experienced guilt and determination to do better.
I felt guilty because I had failed to heed the blogger’s wise words. I haven’t taught my children diligence by insisting on first-time obedience from birth. Oh, I’ve tried doing that many times. But fatigue gets the best of me and I quickly slip back into the “Don’t-make-me-tell-you-again-or-else” routine.
I also felt guilty because in opposition to the blogger’s admonition, I haven’t been the best example of diligence myself. Although I have the best intentions of working hard on a project to completion or establishing good habits, I often find myself doing something that seems more fun (like blogging!). No wonder my kids would rather play video games than do school work.
Having received a double dose of guilt, I responded in the way I typically do: by determining to be diligent. Once again, I was determined to do everything in my power to be a better parent and a better person.
There was just one problem. Diligence had never changed me. No matter how hard I worked at losing weight, I couldn’t stop overeating. No matter how hard I tried to get organized, my life remained chaotic. No matter how hard I tried to be happy, joy eluded me. Where diligence had failed, deliverance had won all of these treasures for me.
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty (Zechariah 4:6b)
No wonder diligence failed me every time. The Lord knows that anything I accomplish by hard work will be a testimony to my glory, not His.
So rather than more determination, Lord, give me the Deliverer. Use your Holy Spirit to set me free from the sin that keeps me from being the woman you want me to be. And to You alone be the glory. Amen.
Dr. Melanie Wilson is a psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. She is passionate about her faith, her family, and having fun. Melanie shares the story of God’s deliverance in her book, So You’re Not Wonder Woman: How the Super Power Can Change Your Life. You can keep up with her at Wonder Women.
What a surprise, and how I loved opening my email and seeing your post and a pic of one of your dear sons. Not only that, it is a wonderful message that this busy diligent blogger needed to hear. Thanks Mel!