What I learned about God from my kids

I was born and raised Catholic. I have always gone to Mass every Sunday. From fourth grade through twelfth I went to Catholic schools. I do all those Catholic things that shock or mystify non-Catholics like go to confession and pray the Rosary and have statues of saints. But despite my thorough Catholic upbringing, there were some things I didn't learn about God until I became a dad. Every once in a while, I will say something to my kids and realize that God, as a father, says the same things to us, His children.

For example, I often say, "If you had done (or avoided) what I told you, you wouldn't have this trouble now." Along with that, I might say something like, "I'm not trying to keep you from having a good time; I'm trying to help you." I think about God's commandments and how people think He doesn't want us to be free to enjoy our lives, but how many people in this world would be better off today if they had followed "the rules" a little more closely?

My younger daughter is 10 and always thinks she knows better than her parents. If I ask her to do something, she will do it her own way or do something different which she thinks is better. Then I have to say to her, "That's not what I asked for." We deal with God that way sometimes. We think that we know better than He does, when we would be much better off if we would not try to control every aspect of our lives. Like any parent, God wants us to give Him the benefit of the doubt, based on age and experience, even if He doesn't explain his plans at the time.

Another thing I have to say to my kids a lot is no. Just because a child wants something, it doesn't mean it's good for him or her. My little sons often want things that are harmful, and as a good dad, I have to say no. Of course, they don't like this, but that's the way it has to be. So it is with God. There's an old line that goes like this: God answers every prayer, but sometimes the answer is no. Even if my kids don't understand at the time why I say no, it is for the best, and I hope they will understand in time. We have to give God the same courtesy.

I have also realized how patient we parents must be. When our kids do something bad or wrong, we expect them to change right away and never do it again. Yet we sin, ask for forgiveness, and fall into the same patterns as before. If we want God to be patient with us, we have to be patient with our kids.

Jesus told us (Matthew 18:3) that to get into Heaven we had to become like little children. Maybe this is what He meant. We have to trust God that He knows what He is doing, and whether He commands or forbids us, it is all out of love and that we, as His children, must accept it. And why not? We expect the same from our children.