Pastor Ralph Diehl » children

VISITORS

pastordiehl — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:00:47 +0000

This week our daughter, Jenny, is visiting from Nashville, TN, with our 3- and 6-year old grandkids. They found the toy closet and have trashed our family room. There are wall to wall toys in that room. Being the perfectionist that I am, I tried to get them to play with one set of toys before they went to the next. No way! They want everything out in the open all the time. That way their short attention span never gets bored. Always something to move on to.

Now, I know they’ll only be here for a week, and I know they’re just kids, but I don’t like that disorderliness. But while I was dealing with my frustration, the Lord reminded me how he must feel when he looks at all the clutter in my life. Why don’t I just take care of one thing at a time? I’m sure He sees wall to wall clutter in my life.

So, I decided to chill out and just let the mess be acceptable for these days. In just a few short years they won’t want to visit here anymore at all. So, we’ll make precious memories while we can.

THE COST OF DIVORCE

pastordiehl — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:00:05 +0000

The poverty rate for children living in single-parent homes is five times the rate for children living with two parents.
Divorced men experience an average 42% rise in their standard of living in the first year after divorce, while divorced women (and their children) experience a 73% decline.
School-age children living with a parent and stepparent, or divorced mother only, are 40% to 75% more likely to repeat a grade and 70% more likely to be expelled from school.
Children who grow up in fractured families are less likely to graduate from high school than children from intact families.
A disproportionate number of runaway teens come from step-parent households.
Young sons often experience nightmares and a “father hunger” soon after the dad leaves home. In their teens, they are more likely to have increased levels of aggression, gang membership and other emotions and behavioral problems.
Young daughters of divorce often experience anxiety and guilt. In their teens, they are more likely to be sexually involved, marry younger, be pregnant more often before marriage, and become divorced or separated from their eventual husbands.
Children of divorce typically experience depression, drug and alcohol experimentation and a diminished ability to form lasting relationships.

Source: Free to Be Family, published by the Family Research Council, a division of Focus on the Family.

FAMILY TIME

pastordiehl — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:00:16 +0000

What would you do for $111,000? Back in 1993 Houston Oilers football player David Williams missed a big game and was docked that amount. What was the big deal? His wife had given birth to their first son, Scot, and David stayed with her through the whole experience. His coach objected and critics said the team should have sent a jet to pick him up for the big game, but Williams thought it was important to stay by his wife.

If David Williams continues to demonstrate this kind of commitment to his family, then Scot too is likely to see the importance of right priorities. In my years of ministry, I have seen many situations when men put their jobs before their children, only to see them rebel against the faith later.

I remember one evening after dinner I was sitting in front of the TV with my young daughter on my lap. I announced that I had to go back to the church for a meeting and she asked why. I told her that I was a pastor and people in the church had to work, and if I wanted to meet with them I needed to go in the evening. In disgust she replied, “I wish you weren’t a preacher!”

That night challenged me. From then on I made every effort to spend more evening time with my family.

God said, “You shall teach these words diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

Would you sacrifice $111,000 for your family?

PROPERTY LAWS

pastordiehl — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:00:53 +0000

I’m not sure where this came from, but I picked it up somewhere years ago:

PROPERTY LAWS OF A TODDLER:

1. If I like it, its mine.

2. If its in my hand, its mine.

3. If I can take it from you, its mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, its mine.

5. If its mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6. If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks just like mine, its mine.

8. If I saw it first, its mine.

9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

10. If its broken, its yours.

WHY, WHY, WHY?

pastordiehl — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:00:30 +0000

Years ago Anita and I lived in a 150-year old farm house just down the road from where we live now. On one particular winter Monday I was putting rope caulk around the old windows to minimize the cold wind that would blow from the west. Anita was babysitting with little ‘Pete’ (our nickname) Sheeler and he followed me all over. He was constantly asking me questions.

“What’re you doing?” Pete asked.

“Putting caulk in the windows,” I replied.

“Why are you puttin’ caulk in the windows?” he asked again.

“I have to close the cracks to keep the wind out,” I answered.

“Why do you have cracks in your windows?” he continued.

“You always have cracks in an old house,” I replied.

“Why do you live in an old house?” he came back, beginning to frustrate me.

“Because this is the house God gave us,” I answered, thinking the bear mention of God would silence him.

“Why did God give you a cracky house?” he retorted. To which I answered, “I think I hear Anita calling you.”

WEEDS

pastordiehl — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:00:07 +0000

19th Century evangelist Dwight L. Moody told the following story: “The story is told that a man once said he would not talk to his son about religion; the boy should make his own choice when he grew up, unprejudiced by him.

“The boy broke his arm, and when the doctor was setting it, he cursed and swore the whole time. The father was quite grieved and shocked.

“Ah,” said the doctor, “you were afraid to prejudice the boy in the right way, but the devil had no such prejudice. He has led your son the other way.

“The idea that a father is to let his children run wild! Nature alone never brings forth anything but weeds.”

I’m interested in knowing if you agree or disagree.

SHORT CUTS

pastordiehl — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:00:43 +0000

Mrs. B. L. Stumbaugh submitted this story to Reader’s Digest some time back:

“My 16-year old son’s room was always a mess. I told him he couldn’t go out with his friends until he had cleaned half of it.

“Just a few minutes later, he was heading for the front door, whistling. When I confronted him, he said, “But, Mom, you told me it didn’t matter which half I cleaned, so I cleaned the top half!”

We get frustrated with our kids when they want to take short cuts, but I wonder if Father God gets just as frustrated with us when we take short cuts in our obedience to Him.

What short cuts have you seen your kids make?

LAUREN THE PRINCESS

pastordiehl — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:00:09 +0000

While I spent time developing a sermon series for January, Anita, Jenny and Lauren set up a Christmas tree in the living room yesterday. Its a little early, but we’ve brought Christmas gifts along and will be opening them before we leave.

My granddaughter Lauren is now a 5-year old dishwater blonde who attends pre-school at a Baptist Church two days a week. She has a daily chore list posted on the pantry door and appears to be very responsible. As a typical little girl, she learns from every thing she sees. While setting up Christmas decorations, we heard her exclaim, “Oh, how romantic!” We wondered how a 5-year old picked a phrase like that up.

Later she wanted us to watch a DVD with her on the cartoon story of The Twelve Princesses. In that story we heard one of the 12 princesses say, “Oh, how romantic!” That illustrates the importance of the influence of TV on impressionable little kids, and how important it is for parents to screen what they see and hear.

What do you think? Agree or disagree? Why or why not?

REUBEN THE STRONG-WILLED

pastordiehl — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:00:27 +0000

Last night we drove to Opry Mills Mall and ate at the Rainforest Restaurant, a treat for the kids. This restaurant is like a rainforest version of Chuck E. Cheese, with robotic (but realistic) Gorillas and elephants that came alive every 15 minutes. A thunderstorm occured every half hour that including flashing lights, rolling thunder, and terrified animals. Lauren loved it, but it scared Reuben. We then drove to the huge Opryland Hotel, where we took a loooong walk to see all the lights and Christmas decorations. After that walk I understood that that problem with the incision wasn’t my belt, but was just irritated from doing too much. Healed on the outside, it still is sensitive on the inside. Boy, that really stings.

This morning Josh (my son-in-law) and I drove downtown to Gruhn Guitars with my Dad’s classic guitar. George Gruhn is the nation’s foremost authority on Gibson Les Paul guitars. He went over that guitar with a fine tooth comb, listed every possible blemish, and appraised it at $25,000. Not a bad investment seeing he paid $200 for it new back in 1953.

My 17-month old grandson, Reuben, is an active tow head and looks just like his Uncle Nathan when he was that age. But Nathan was very compliant, and Reuben wants to be in charge, just like his mother at that age. I’ve been very blessed to watch his Mom deal with this strong willed guy. She keeps a wooden spoon handy and will not allow him to throw a fit, which he tries to do quite often. But he doesn’t want the spoon so is learning to control his anger. I’m proud of them both.

Do you have experience dealing with a strong-willed child?