HAVE YOU EVER...been a perfectionist?

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.  1 Timothy 4:12

Paul wrote this.  I have always liked this verse.  It is a great charge in which to strive.  Paul was writing to Timothy.  Timothy’s spiritual growth and teaching abilities were being questioned.  He says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”  Timothy was probably in his 30’s.  I’m in my 30’s but I don’t feel young.  These were different times.  Nowadays, if you are not a millionaire by 25 you are a complete failure.  Well, I’m not a millionaire, but I’m a parent.  I am blessed. 

Paul felt like a father figure to Timothy and he had faith in him.  The second part of Timothy 4:12 shows great character.  Paul wanted Timothy to be an example.  As a parent, you want your kid to be a good example.  That is a major responsibility for you and your child.

I’m a perfectionist and it has rubbed off onto my children.  If they can’t do it right, I want to do it for them.  They compete with each other in the same way.  By doing this, I have discovered a problem.  When it is crunch time, they have no problem solving skills.  I am enabling them.  Paul didn’t enable Timothy.  He let him go and do it on his own.  We know Timothy didn’t always get it right.  No one does. 

I have been trying to let my kids make as many decisions on their own as much as possible.  I have even let them really fall a few times.  I know letting someone fall sounds cruel.  I don’t mean you literally watch someone fall when you could have helped them.  I mean let them mess up or make a mistake.  They can learn something.  Anyway, God is in complete control – not us. 

HAVE YOU EVER…let someone fall?

Psalm 127:3, Ephesians 6:1-4