Listening And Obeying The First Time

If you are a parent, there are probably some things your children do that drive you absolutely crazy! I know there are lots of things mine do that sometimes cause me to want to scream. I love them with all my heart, but they sure can frustrate me at times. One of the biggies at our house is ignoring someone when they are speaking to you. This usually only happens when the television is on.

Recently, I had to call my son five times before I had his full attention. He answered me on the third attempt, but still did not fully comprehend what I was instructing him to do until the fifth time. He was so engrossed in the television show he was watching; he couldn’t bear to tear himself away from it.

This is usually about the time either my husband or I lose it and the television goes off with threats of not coming back on… ever. As punishment, my children usually lose a reward I was planning to give them for something else, or perhaps they lose a privilege. Then the apologizing starts and they promise they will never ever do it again. They say they will listen and obey the first time from now on because they know it’s best for them. Then they are really good for a while, but inevitably, it happens again.

As this exchange was happening this week, it became clear to me this is sometimes how I treat my Heavenly Father. He is calling to me, trying to give me instruction; but I am so engrossed in whatever activity I am involved in, I don’t listen. I can’t tear myself away from what I want to do to obey what He wants me to do. When disciplined, I apologize, ask forgiveness and promise I will never ever do it again. But inevitably, I do.

And just as I still love my children and forgive them over and over, giving them chance after chance to get it right; my Father loves me and forgives me over and over, giving me chance after chance to get it right. But I can’t help but wonder, how many rewards or blessings have I lost, by not listening and obeying the first time?