The Little on your left, she is quite the diva. We laugh and wonder where in the world she came from. With three brothers and two boy first cousins, she was the first girl to enter our world. You would think she would be the ultimate TomBoy--NOT SO! She is the ultimate girly-girly---loves all things sparkly, ruffles galore, drama at its best, and giggles with the silliest of them. Her mom and I are more prone to be wearing our work out clothes, while she has on her tutu. She is the baby of the six grands and she came into the world knowing how to play us all.
While she was visiting there was the occasional need for a gentle reprimand. Unlike her soft spoken mom, who sweetly corrects with a soft voice and gentle reasoning, Lulu tends to be direct and to the point. When the need came to change our attitude or correct our behavior, justice was swift and direct. EVERY single time I corrected her, I got~~~~"YOU HURT MY FEELINGS" That might have worked once, but by the next time I had caught on. She was using the old diversion tactic. If I squeeze out a few tears and declare hurt, she will forget what the discussion was all about~~~NO! My response was to remind her to stay on the subject, the subject was disobedience or misconduct. I will have to give her credit, she tried each and every time to change the subject from her actions, to what she had done. The Old Diversionary Ploy!
She has learned at an early age, what must of us adults are quite adapt at doing. When we are caught dead to rights and loosing our argument, we try to change the subject by shifting the attention away from what is being discussed. My favorite response is DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT! Once we have finished the discussion, then we can discuss whatever perceived wrongs you sense I have done, or dredge up the past 50 years. For the moment, please stay on the point!
Isn't this exactly what we try with God, once we have been convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin? BUT GOD, don't you remember the time you~~~~fill in the blank. Instead of staying on the subject and confessing our wrong, we are trying to divert attention to another time, another place, or even another person. HEY GOD, look what they did next door! I am not nearly as bad as they are. We are masters at diversion when it comes to facing our sin. I am SO MUCH a better person than old Sue over there. BUT I never stole any money or committed any murders. We pull the rug out from under the subject and slide into diversion tactics without blinking an eye. Who wants to get called on the carpet and have to admit we are wrong? And yet, if we only confess, he is faithful and just to forgive us, even when we are undeserving.
You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins.
Confess them and give them up;
then God will show mercy to you.
Proverbs 28:13
“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men— swindlers, evildoers, adulterers— or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’… (Luke 18:10 onwards).
ReplyDeleteThe old diversionary tactic.
God bless.
From the very beginnings of time, Victor. She made me take a bite from that apple! Thank you for the reminder!
DeleteBlessings, My Friend!
Yep, the old diversionary tactic - been around as long as humans have been on earth. Your style of correcting granddaughter's behaviors is just like mine: direct and unswerving. I don't put up with nonsense, whereas my daughter has much more patience with her girls. Everything in balance!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Lulu!
Perhaps there is a generational difference?
DeleteBlessings, My Friend!