September 15: Of Neville Longbottom, Paul, and Parents

Isaiah 19:1-21:17

Galatians 2:1-16

Psalm 59:1-17

Proverbs 23:13-14

"There are all kinds of courage.  It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
- Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster - Hogwarts, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

"Do not withhold discipline from a child…punish them with the rod and save them from death."

Proverbs 23:13-14

Parenthood takes great courage and strength.  We are torn between the desire to give our children what they want, and to teach them what is good.  We aspire to give them comfort, but know hardship is a far better teacher.  And if you are like me, there will be many times you will forego calling them to account, forego imposing a consequence for their wrongdoing, just because it is so much easier to let it slide.  

Those who read JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book will know that Neville Longbottom, at that time a nebbish young boy, had the courage NOT to let it slide.  When Harry, Ron and Hermione were sneaking out of their dormitory, Neville stood up to them, tried to stop them because he thought they were going to get into trouble.  He was protecting his house, Gryffindor, and his friends.  

In today's NT reading, we find Neville wasn't the first one - Paul finds himself in similar situation, having to stand up to Peter who, unlike Paul, HAD walked with Christ, and HADN'T tried to get all the Christians killed, and to Cephas, in an effort to protect the church, and his friends - yes, Peter and Cephas, whom Paul believed had turned their back on the message of salvation by faith ever so slightly.  Like Neville, Paul did NOT let it slide.

Sometimes the place where it is hardest NOT to let it slide, is as a parent, when one of the kids does something that requires correction.  The world today preaches that to love our children is to enable them, to condone their bad behavior.  And when they do something wrong, the world demands we let them "express themselves".

When that happens, the Paul/Neville response can be difficult.  Some parents are just tired. Some parents don't want conflict, don't want to have to deal with a tantrum.  Still others might be afraid their kids won't like them, or speak to them.  Some kids might even say "you think you're so perfect"…and the parents will know they aren't.  

But just as Paul had to stand up TO the sin, and stand up FOR Peter and Cephas; just as Neville had to stand up TO the misbehavior and stand up FOR his friends, so to as parents are we call to stand up TO the wrongdoing, because that means we will stand up FOR our children.  It isn't easy, so God, please give us strength.