In our role as parents, we must always assess our approach to the situations that involve our children and ask ourselves, “Am I helping or making it worse?” One of the prevalent mindsets of our contemporary culture is that we are all “know-it-alls.” We know how to be president, preacher, pastor, parent, doctor, teacher and weatherman, among other things. The reality is, however, that unless we are in the place of actually being one of these, we really do not know what is best or required for the best outcome. We cannot, in reality, put ourselves in a place we have never been.
Having so much information at our hands has made us an “arrogant” minded generation. Our attitude of “I know best how “you” should do your job” is a source of conflict and is an obstacle to harmony in our relationships. Often, our children pay the price for this disunity. Arrogance is defined as “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.” Arrogance can cause us to be very “wrong,” and behave as though we are very “right.” Arrogance may entitle us to intimidate others and assume wrongly they are not doing their best. Arrogance can make us totally wrong about a situation or setting.
Do we cooperate with those who have influence over our children, or am I truly an obstacle that gets in the way of the best outcome? Do I behave in such a way that others (my children) see me as arrogant and therefore become entitled to be the same way? Romans 12:16 (NLT) states, “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”
Do I use intimidation and murmuring to cast doubt on others? Do my techniques and tactics in approaching others border intimidation and demands? We are much better off when we come alongside our teachers and leaders and consider their feelings and offer help and not criticism.
It’s important that we take time to consider how our behavior affects others. As Psalm 133:1-3 (NLT) says, “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” And of course, is my behavior first and foremost pleasing to the Lord? Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT), “There are six things the LORD hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.”
There is an appropriate way to approach others with humble concerns. A “working together” attitude creates the best outcome. As 1 Corinthians 3:8 (NLT) states, “The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.”
