One of our kids was having a rough go of it the other day.  If you would've asked him, he would have just said, "I don't want to play football."  But one of the things we've learned in parenting, and life in general, is that it isn't as easy as the surface makes it seem; there is always a deeper heart issue. 

This time the deeper heart issue for him was the second most important commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself," which incidentally (in this situation, as in most) tied directly into the greatest commandment, "Love the Lord your God..."  We started to discuss what the application of those verses were to the situation and how there was a need for repentance and moving forward with a right heart and then something smacked me in the face... it was like I was looking into a mirror.  

God was calling me to the carpet. 

It was no longer about him, but a sin in MY heart had been exposed as I sat there talking with my son.  I stopped talking about his current situation and instead I talked with him about my similar situation, current in my life, happening right now, and how then and there, I needed to deal with the same deeper heart issue - and I needed to repent.  It was as clear as day.  And I did; right there, praying to God and having the child pray for me.  It was truly unexpected and truly necessary in the process that God has been bringing me through as of late, and once again, I was incredibly thankful.

Truth be told, this happens to me a lot, I should be ready for it.  (Maybe I have a lot more junk than most.)  Still, when the tables get immediately flipped around it always catches me by surprise but I am a completely grateful recipient.  God is, as always, the perfect loving Father for the kids and for me.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1John 3:1a