Page 57 - Sarah's Children

these things? Quite often children are encouraged to rebel simply because they see
a rebellious attitude in their mother as she relates to her husband or other men. How
awesome and transforming it would be for the children to see their mother remain
chaste and respectful even when her husband is disobedient to the word of God. The
children would see demonstrated before them the principle that rebellion is never
justified, and honor is always required.

Often children are loud, self-willed and rebellious because they have observed their
mother or father also being self-willed. They have observed that their mother has her
own life and is very assertive in her independence. They have not seen in her a
gentle, quiet and submissive spirit. Therefore the children also lack these same
things.

We often see in movies or on television the stereotype of a meek man who is wed to
a strong and assertive woman. She may be disappointed that her husband does not
take a firm stand in some matter. She may consider him to be too lenient with a
repairman or salesperson. She may nag her husband to be more forceful and
assertive, or she may simply take things into her own hands and assert herself with
strong words and forceful actions as she deals with the repairman, the salesperson,
the neighbor, the friend, the mother-in-law, etc.. Yet every time a woman resorts to
this type of behavior she dishonors her husband and she promotes a spirit of
dishonor in her family.

If you are dealing with rebellion among your children, ask yourself if you have been
perfect in submitting to your husband as to the Lord. Have you reverenced him by
being content with his judgment or actions in some matter, or have you usurped his
authority by taking things into your own hands to make sure things are done to your
satisfaction? Our actions and attitudes bear fruit in the lives of others. My own bride
was led to begin practicing headcovering when the Spirit spoke to her through the
rebellion and disobedience of our son.

I have taught and written about the matter of headcovering, and from the beginning
of our marriage relationship I told my wife that headcovering was something I
desired for her to practice. I did not hound my wife about the issue, but she
understood my desire in the matter. One day as Tony was dealing with our son and
he was not obeying in a prompt manner, she became angered by his recalcitrant
attitude.

As she was considering what her next response should be to our son, the Spirit spoke
to Tony and reminded her of her own hesitation to obey in the matter of
headcovering. The Spirit so convicted Tony about her own reluctance to obey, and
He revealed to her how this behavior was mirrored in our son, that she began