Christian Parenting - Love casts out all fear

During the past two weeks, my newly adopted daughters have adapted marvelously, but more than that, I can see that I am changing.  For those who know me, this may come as no surprise: I can be a very difficult personality to get along with and I can fail to show love all the time.  But the word says, 

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12)

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

These passages always sound nice, but then real life makes them so difficult to live out.  Yet they are true.

My girls came afraid of the dogs and in my unloving way, I didn't take that into account, i made very few allowances, for it nor did I try and provide the protection from our dog that they desired.  However, after a few days of watching their reactions and realizing that I was losing place with them.  (And a few well placed words from my wife.) I began to change my method of interaction.  I picked them up when the dogs came by, I spoke tenderly to them, I ran to them when they cried and wouldn't let any one else do it.  After 3 days of changed behavior, my youngest daughter kissed me last night and said, I love you.  Her sister played a prank on me and asked me to read a story by handing me a book.


Truly all the sins I committed in the past 2 weeks are being covered over by love.  It is a powerful thing, healing wounds driving out fear (both girls are now petting the dog) and changing my heart from a hardened rock to a softer lump of flesh.  In fact, I believe that is exactly what God promised he would do when we walked in his ways, for Ezekiel 36:26 says,

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I praise you Lord that the fruit of your spirit, most notably, Love is growing in my heart.  So the next time you are struggling with your kids, remember that Love casts out fear and covers over sin.  Try it and see what God does in them and in you.