Extreme Make Over

This is it. This is the summer we have decided to make-over our daughter's room. Last year the girls decided they wanted their own rooms and the only way we could make that happen is if one of them moved into the guest bedroom. One of them volunteered to move to the smaller, multi-functional room that currently looks like a hospital room - white and drab. Last time we spent any amount of time or effort on the kids rooms they were quite young. Dave and I made the decisions and they dutifully loved their rooms, or were too young to care!

This time around is different.

As is inevitable, our children are growing up, and being responsible parents, we are encouraging them to make wise decisions and in this case, to make wise decisions in spending and choice of personal expression in room decor.

The dilemma? Our tastes are different!

We look at bedding and I get really excited over a duvet cover and she completely shuts down!

I say, "oh, I love this pattern!" and she diplomatically says, "that looks like a mom pattern!"

I see a colour combination and code my dislike with, "Wow, that's bright," to which she responds, "I love that one!"

Now, there's part of me that wants to say, "You know this room decor has to have some longevity. We can't just pick something for now, we want it to last till you're done high school. (The possible deal maker/breaker and power play) I'm paying. (Icing on the cake) Aaaand, guests will be staying in your room!"

These statements all have truth to them but I have to admit that they are deceptive and selfish. I'm all for, and completely convicted about helping my daughter navigate through life in a godly manner. However, the difference between pleasing Mom and pleasing God can be likened to the difference between slavery and freedom respectively!

Words like "love", "grace", "Spirit-filled" and phrases like "freedom from sin" and "dying to self" come to mind. I believe strongly that God came not just to save us for eternity with Him in heaven but also that we are able to live well for Him here during our stay on earth as well. I believe God is the God of large and small moments. Only, it isn't easy to entrust myself fully to this Way.

My daughter and I have been on this road before for different issues and God has been faithful in changing my heart. I have tried to change and convince her using my own tactics, but they NEVER work. They only made her dig her heels in more and cause her to want to recoil into a ball of fear.

It was Truths like;
"A gentle answer turns away wrath." "Perfect love casts out all fear," and "Love comes from God" that spoke slow, gradual change into a heart that held tightly to personal expectations and dreams.

I am revisiting these promises anew, under new situations and with new questions.

Why can't her preferences be more like mine? It would be so much easier! I have such good rationale for these decisions and I know quality and longevity and trends so much better than she...

I am hit square between the eyes...

"You shall have no other gods before me." "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"

Well, we're in the throes of picking out paint colours. I'm extremely aware of the importance of my reactions and I think through the passage I've been reading over and over.

Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them-living and breathing God! Romans 8:5 MSG

So I'm believing God, knowing that even in these little moments He is faithful to grow me. More importantly, He is willing and able to perform the ultimate in extreme make overs; to work through my rather grim leanings to pass on a faith to my children that is filled with freedom and perfect love. That is my hope.