God's parenting style

Hosea 11: ¹ When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
² The more they were called,
the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
... ⁸How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
⁹I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.

Here Hosea expresses God's fatherly love for his children. God loves his children and wants them to be walking with Him and blessed. However, these children are disobedient, rebellious, and stubborn. It seems that the more God has reached out to His people, the more they have turned from Him. God is often wrongly pegged as this wrathful, angry, and judgmental supernatural being that has no heart. That couldn't be farther from the truth. God has been merciful, loving, patient, and forgiving more than any parent could be with their child.

I think back to my teenage years and see a rebellious girl who thought she knew everything and was always right in her own mind. I used to think that I had to be the parent to my mom. I used to think that my rebelliousness was justified in my works. I could do whatever I wanted as long as I appeared to be well put together on the outside: good grades, no detention, and beauty. However, God allowed me to have things "my way" and boy...it changed my life. What I thought I needed was really bad for me. Things that were good for me, things of God, seemed so unattainable and strict. But God truly has amazing grace and now, here I am. I love God and it is easy to keep His commandments. Jesus has shown me how to be an obedient child of God and the fruit that comes with that is better than anything the world can offer. There will come a time when Lion will turn from me. He'll think he knows better than me and will think that he's the parent and I'm the child. It is then that I must continue to love him with God's love and extend compassion, grace, and forgiveness. I must persevere in calling out to him. He'll need to know where he can turn back to when he is ready to repent.

Heavenly Father, I love You. Thank You for sending Your son so that I may have a relationship with You. Jesus, thank You for showing me how to be a child of God. Lord, please train me to have Your parenting traits and skills. Help me to be compassionate, patient, and loving. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.