Attitude Adjuster

As children grow, they learn appropriate behaviors in many ways, by our examples as parents, through loving discipline and positive reinforcement. But there comes a time (starting at about age 2) when parental/child boundaries are challenged, and rebellion begins. It's not rebellion for rebellion's sake, rather it's a part of the learning process. And as parents, it's our job to alter and mold their behavior.

In our house we have been known to use the phrase, "you better adjust the attitude." Meaning we are seeing inappropriate behavior and it's time to change. But if that phrase didn't work we would follow with "if you don't change your attitude, I'll change it for you!" And we did have the "Attitude Adjuster," a paddle that I don't ever remember using, but it did it's job.

Most of the time our little discussions worked. Today we have new methods of adjusting attitudes now that our children are older, but I have learned something, that this behavior continues through the teen years, sometimes even through college and beyond. But at some point most kids grow up in body and behavior.

The problem is we still need attitude adjustments sometimes! (and not just the kids!)

There is a subtle lesson in Hannah's story from 1 Samuel. She is the wife of Elkannah, but has no children which has made her very sad. Life is hard for her in her own home. (with Elkannah's other wife always putting her down.) She finds comfort in the encouragement of her husband but especially in her prayers at the Sanctuary.

It was one of those special days of prayer when she was especially distraught when she cried out to God for help and Eli the priest gave her words of comfort. But did you notice what happened when she left the Sanctuary? She responded to Eli, "Think well of me - and pray for me! she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant." (1 Sam. 18, Msg)

Hannah was changed through her prayer.

That's because prayer is an attitude adjuster!

As we grow up in faith, we still find our attitudes out of whack at times. We may not be rebelling, but we might find ourselves distraught, angry, disappointed, hurt, depressed, you name it. But just as I teach my kids, the same holds true for me and you, we can choose how we respond to our life-circumstances. We still need our attitudes adjusted sometimes. And just like Hannah, we can use the purest form of attitude adjuster...prayer.

It can change our outlook and give us hope, because it's communicating with God!

"Adjust the attitude!"

Pray!

and discover God's Peace ><>
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