Running Away
Learning to accept the responsibilities of being part of a family

    “I’m running away to New Jersey where they don’t have mean mothers!” Four-year-old Timothy was angry again! Could I start another day with this strong-willed child? All I really wanted to do was to go back to bed, pull the covers over my head, and block out the noise of my three pre-school children. Since this wasn’t possible or practical, I decided that I needed to deal with this problem head on. 
    Tim, our oldest, was always looking for new and exciting things to do. This morning had started with Tim sliding his Dad’s brand—new watch down the banister. Of course, when it landed, it scattered in various directions. All I could think of, as I gathered the pieces, was that we could not afford another watch or even pay to have this one fixed. I know inquisitive minds need to be encouraged, but this was too much! To this day, my husband still doesn’t wear a watch!
    Tim was soundly punished for his experiment, and that’s when he announced, “I’m running away...“ I prayed as quick prayer for wisdom and said, “Tim, you may run away but you may not take anything that Mommy and Daddy have bought you.”  “OK”, he replied. “Fine”, I said. I felt as if the lines of battle had been drawn and another WAR of WILLS was about to commence.
   “Tim we bought you that shirt just before we moved to Vermont, you better take it off and give it to me. Off came his shirt! As he was getting ready to leave, I said, “Didn’t I buy you that pair of pants for Christmas? Oh, and you’re not going to be able to wear your coat, hat, or gloves either. Remember when we went shopping and bought them?”  By now, Tim was down to his underwear, socks, and cowboy boots.  I was wondering how much further I should go when Tim announced, stubborn as ever, that he didn’t need anything from us!  
    A few minutes later, when I had taken the rest of the clothes that we had bought him, Tim stood by the front door. All he had left was the pair of cowboy boots that had been a gift from his grandparents. I opened the door and, with the cold Vermont winds blowing, said to my naked son, “Now you may go!” Tim just looked at me and shivered. Finally he said, “I don’t feel like running away today.” The battle was over.
    I wonder, do we as Christians try “running away” from the responsibilities of obedience to the Lord and yet still want all His blessings? Can we ever be free from the responsibility of obeying the Lord? In I Corinthians 6:20 we read: “For we are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Too often, we live as though WE paid the price and God is there just to meet our needs and desires.
   Just as a child must learn that there are benefits in living in a family, we must learn there are responsibilities. We must never forget that in God’s family there are responsibilities as well as blessings.
    Tim never threatened to run away again. After I dressed and warmed him up, we spent some time talking and praying about how God wants parents to teach and train their children, and that children are to obey their parents.
   Timothy continued to be a challenge throughout his childhood, and now God has blessed Tim and his wife with FOUR Sons!                                                          [From Keystone Baptist by Mabel R. Flatt]