RULES!

4/5/10 I grew up in a house full of rules. Manners first---always! No patent leather shoes before Easter and never after Labor Day. No caps at the table---ever! No listening in on the party line. Even in landscaping, Mother only allowed white and green planted “out front.” All colored flowers were in the back in her cutting garden.

My cherry tree that is in our front yard met Mother’s criteria (Josh, the giver, must have known her rule.) It blooms bright white every spring. Yet, when we came home this weekend to the driveway littered with its petals, it was magnificent---the dried petals had turned into mounds of pinkish petal dunes scattered by the wind. So much for that rule---I loved the pink!

During the little Texans Spring Break visit, I laid out rules for them as well. Street play not allowed. No standing in their golf cart. Turn around for all vehicles was the Kaplan’s driveway, etc. I must have overdone it a bit because when I asked Noah to put his socks on he responded , “Is there a sock rule too?”

I tend to follow rules. I find security in rules and laws, often getting really miffed at those who break them, especially litterers. However, when I’m honest with myself, I know that I (and others) can rationalize when “real” laws are broken, or even one of our own self-imposed rules.

How ‘bout the golden rule? Or those other laws and rules laid out in God’s word? They lead to righteous living but can often be hard to follow. Just look at 3 of my “biggie” struggles.
• Do everything without complaining or arguing. (Philippians 2:14)
• Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Philippians 4:5)
• Do not be anxious about anything, (Philippians 4:6)

Even the apostle Paul had trouble keeping the rules. Romans 7:19 shares his inner conflict. “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
How grateful I am for grace---grace as seen in the next chapter verse 1 which says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Now that’s something to think about for those of us who are still struggling with some of the rules. This isn’t license to break the rules but a reminder that His grace will guide us in our struggle.