Everyday I spend hours playing with, educating, guiding, and disciplining my two little squirts. They are so incredibly sweet, but they aren't perfect. So everyday I'm confronted by their sinful hearts. And by mine. Sometimes all at once. Picture that.

Don't get me wrong, there are more good times than not, but there are certainly regular instances of rebellion and sinful defiance around here. Left up to my own devices, I'd probably approach the kids like a tyrant, barking orders and threatening all kinds of consequences. Okay, sometimes I really do that. Boo! That's not what I want to do. While abiding in Christ, I want to depend on the wisdom of Scripture to help me navigate those situations.

Thankfully various passages of the Bible have done well to shed light on not only how much A&A need my help, but also how I, as a parent, should seek to go about helping them. Check out Hebrews 3:12-13:

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

According to this verse, the danger of a sinful, unbelieving heart is that it leads one away from God.

How can this straying be avoided? But encourage one another. How often? Daily. For how long? As long as it is called Today.

So my role as a parent is to help A&A guard their hearts from sin's deceitfulness and to encourage them daily. With this Hebrews passage in mind I've also been able to glean guidance from Galatians 6:1:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

You who are spiritual should restore him gently. What a good reminder that the goal of parental intervention is restoration, not simply a change in behavior or an attempt to achieve peace around my house. The goal is to help restore my child's fellowship with the Lord if they are a believer or to help them realize their need for a Savior if the child has not yet put their faith in Christ.

Restore him gently. Unfortunately it's super easy to respond to the sin of another in anger and frustration. Way too easy. But what my kids need (or any of us for that matter) is restoration. They need to know that there is grace, forgiveness and mercy for those that turn to Christ.

And this restoration requires a gentle touch. This is easier said than done. Like when the 2 year old selfishly takes away Buzz Light Year from the 4 year old, and the 4 yr old then proceeds to react by screaming and crying in a fashion that leads me to wonder if indeed the sky is falling. When I come running from the other room, concerned that someone just broke an arm or knocked out a tooth, to find out it's just a battle over Buzz...let's just say that gentleness isn't usually the first thing that bubbles out. But is should be.

Then there is humility. Though the word humble isn't actually used in Galatians 6:1, the concept is there. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. The temptations that A&A encounter are certainly nothing that I don't experience myself. They get caught up in selfishness, pride, anger, and rebellion. So do I. They can be unkind and speak and act in ways that are not pleasing to the Lord. So can I. The fact is that their hearts, like my own, are subject to many temptations. But in being able to identify with their struggles, I can try to speak the truth to them in love. Using Scripture, I can shine light on the darkness in their hearts.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Scripture reveals that Christ is full grace and mercy. He also completely understands.

For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. (Hebrews 4:15,16)

So with gentleness and humility, I am trusting God to help me to consistently point A&A to Christ. Thankfully when I direct, discipline, or correct the kids, I'm not acting out of my own authority. Rather, I am acting on behalf of God who is my Final Authority. Remembering that I am functioning as God's agent serves well to keep me focused and humble as a parent. I am His ambassador to my kids. How freeing to realize that the discipline process is not about convincing A&A to do what I want them to do. And it's not about me venting my anger regarding what they've done that's offended me. It's about me coming to to them on behalf of God, showing them that their heart's sinful problems can only be solved by His grace.

My daily task is to bring Addison and Ayden to truth by continually revealing to them their need for a Savior. Christ is the One who can change their hearts, and behavior follows the heart.