Yes Sir

(Job 36:11-12 KJV) If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Over the years, the subject of “obeying” has fallen significantly in the ranking of important lessons to teach our children. We have also been told that there are no “absolutes” in life...which would imply that there are no guidelines for our children to follow either.

As a result of not having boundaries (or banks to their river), children soon learn to debate their parents on every direction given to them. Eventually that child learns to question all authority.

While sitting in an airport today I noticed a child fighting their parent regarding everything the parent told the child to do. I watched the parent surrender to the child every time after the child threw a “fit.”

For all practical purposes that child had an absentee parent, even though they were there together. The results of such parenting (or lack thereof), will ultimately cause anger, fear and insecurity to take control of that child.

This may sound a little old fashioned, but I believe the term “Yes sir” is as relevant today to teach a child as it was when I was growing up. If one cannot learn to say “Yes sir” or “Yes ma’am” to a parent, they will never learn to say it to God either.

A few days ago, my wife was going to drive an hour away from our home to see our six year old great-niece in her dance recital. My plan was to stay home and rest, because I had just gotten home from Hungary and the Ukraine where I had been ministering for a week...and I was very tired.

As I was leaning back in my chair looking forward to a time of rest I heard the Lord clearly speak to me, “Go to the dance recital.” Because I always try to make a habit of saying “Yes sir” to everything I think I hear God say, I told my wife that I would go with her.

I could not even imagine how uncomfortable I was going to be sitting in a tight-seated school auditorium for an hour and a half surrounded by hundreds of gloating parents and grandparents.

The kids in this dance recital ranged from age three to age twelve. As soon as the curtain was raised I knew immediately why the Lord wanted me to come. Standing there in the middle of this very large stage stood a few tiny little “three year old angels” in their colorful little dance dresses. No longer was my mind thinking about my tired body. It was focused on the special “gift of joy” the Lord had given me that could only be found standing in the middle of the stage.

I was even more overjoyed when my little six year old great-niece came out with her group. I could not take my eyes off her. She was absolutely beautiful and I am quite sure that all of the other hundreds of parents and grandparents could not take their eyes off her either. Her moves were as soft and delicate as that of a butterfly.

While driving back home that day I realized the Lord had just given me a gift to rest my spirit while teaching me that perhaps we take ourselves far too serious. He took the delicate things of life (these sweet little girls) to bring a perspective to the strong things in life.

The question is, “Could I have learned this lesson if I had not first been taught to say ‘Yes sir’ while I was growing up?” I also wonder how many opportunities and blessings I may have missed by not saying “Yes sir” at other times. Perhaps the only real faith is blind obedience. Think about it.

Father,

We DO desire to be obedient to You by saying “Yes sir” and not debate with You or question Your perfect wisdom.

Amen