A huge component of Love is Freedom. Love never forces the one they claim to love to do this or that. Love will counsel. Love will direct. Love will urge and prompt and put hedges of protection around the loved one, but it will never force itself on anyone. This is one of the most precious gifts God has granted us humans: Free Will. As a Good, Good Father, God does NOT allow us to choose everything and anything though. As He told me a long time ago, and to be honest, has to remind me every now and again too, “Child, I have given you the gift of Free Will, NOT free reign!” God loves us way too much to allow us to choose every tiny detail in our lives, and so we should imitate Him on this important point with our own children.
Let me give you an example: Which one of us caring parents would allow their young children to choose their own dinner every night? They would be eating candy and chips instead of protein and veggies, wouldn’t they? No, that would not be a caring thing to do at all! What we must do is give them what I call “select choices.” For instance, we can say, “Would you like broccoli or carrots with your chicken tonight?” You see, this gives them the opportunity to exercise their Free Will wisely. As they grow older, we can expand the types of choices we give them according to their level of maturity. My Friends, this is exactly what God does for us…and on those occasions where we get really stubborn and insist on our own way? Well, we will talk about that tomorrow…
<>< Peace, Diane
