One of the never ending tasks of a parent is reminding kids about their household duties. In a family our size, everyone has to pitch in to keep things running. There is the dishwasher to fill and empty, clothes to wash and tables to clean up after dinner. We have a small herd of chickens right now, and they need fed and watered.
Then there are those things called “bedrooms!”
Oh, I hate to even get into that. When I (try) to walk into a teenager’s room and there is a week’s worth of clothes lying on the floor, I get a bit irate at times. I remind the child to clean the room and then we go through the oft-repeated discussion of why it matters. After all, “no one else sees it or even cares!”
In spite of the teenage desire to avoid these reminders, not to mention the work, I would hate to see what it would be like if we didn’t bring up the subject. Paul addresses the Thessalonians in 4: 9-12 with a reminder. He says, ‘you already know this, … ‘ “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. ”
Most, if not all of us, know we need to love each other. Jesus said in John 13:34, ”A new commandment I give to you , that you love one another , even as I have loved you , that you also love one another.”
I think this is kind of like cleaning the room. A teenage occupant can walk over clothes and most anything that isn’t moving and never even think about it. We can overlook loving others, so be reminded: Make the effort to love one another!
