Mike Smith:
This week, I’ve been talking with Rachael Carman, author of the book Soundbites from Heaven: What God Wants Us to Hear When We Talk to Our Kids. Rachael, we talked about how the things you say to your children are things that God also says to us. What do you hear in the things your children say to you?

Rachael Carman:
Ouch! This is the hard one. Our kids’ responses reflect our own responses to our heavenly Father. And sometimes, it’s more than a little concerning.

When I say things to my kids that I want them to do, very often they say, “No. I don’t want to. It’s too hard.” And that’s exactly how I find myself responding to God sometimes when He asks me to do things. Sometimes I just out-and-out say “No!” Sometimes I say, “I don’t want to do that.” And sometimes I say, “That’s too hard!”

But you know, just like it brings me incredible joy when I ask one of my children to do something, and they say, “Yes, ma’am,” I am confident that it brings our Lord incredible joy when He asks us to do something—regardless of whether we feel like we can, or we’re in the mood, or we want to—when we say, “Yes, Sir,” and step out in faith and obedience.

Mike:
Rachael, thank you so much for joining us this week! I know your wisdom from God will encourage many of our listeners. Until next time, I’m Mike Smith.