Some of the most successful men and women in history have credited their success to the guidance and prayers of their parents.
I love the following true story:
During the American Revolution, an officer was sent around the Virginia countryside to confiscate horses for military use. This was a very normal practice for those days. When the army had a need, they would simply ask for donations. If the donations were not coming in, they confiscated the needed items, using the rights of eminent domain.
A particular officer came to an old mansion, rang the doorbell and asked to speak to the owner.
A dignified elderly lady appeared, and he was invited into the parlor. The officer got right to the point and exclaimed, "Madam, I am claiming your horses on order from my commander."
"Sir," she answered, "You cannot have my horses. I need them now for spring plowing and planting. Who is your commander?" she ordered.
He, in full military uniform, standing at attention replied, "General George Washington, Commander of the American Army."
"You go back and tell General Washington that his mother says, 'He cannot have any of her horses'," she replied firmly with a sweet smile!
I love that story! I would have loved to have been there when the officer went back to give his report. Can't you just imagine some of the officers chuckling under their breath when they left the room? You just know the story spread quickly as to how George Washington's mother said, "NO! You cannot have my horses."
As the old saying goes, "Once a mother…always a mother!" Mothers usually don't and shouldn't have a problem saying no.
Sadly in this day and age, that saying isn't always true. More and more as we travel across the country, we are seeing a shift taking place in the home: the children are now running the home and their parents. The backbone of parental discipline is breaking down. We desperately need to get back to the two letter word, "NO!"
"No! I'm not going to let you run the house!"
"No! I am the parent. You, as the child, will not tell me what to do!"
"No! You are not allowed to talk back to me!"
"No! I am and will always be the parent in charge!"
"No! You cannot have everything you think you want or think you deserve!"
Parents, you need to take control of the family back into your hands.
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:1-4, "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou may live long on the earth. And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Larry