After the wrestling, children reach conclusions that turn into decisions and commitments. Jesus told the expert in the law that the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" (Matt 22:37). Paul encouraged the believers in Antioch to "remain true to the Lord with all their hearts" (Acts 11:23). Moses told the people, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day... They are your life" (Deut 32:46-47). Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." Each of these verses is a call to commitment.
Commitments provide purpose, meaning, and direction. Without these, the heart lives in continual turmoil, tossed around by fear, anger, or anxiety. Often, a continual problem with negative emotions indicates the need for some major heart work. Children need to understand more about life and how to process it and even adopt new teaching into their value systems.
Five year old Jerry decided he was going to help in Sunday School. Each Sunday when he got to church, he marched right in and looked for ways to help the teacher. Dad could see he had a commitment to help, and it affected the boy's whole Sunday experience. Dad looked for ways to encourage Jerry's heart commitment. Ralph, age fourteen, was determined to save money for a remote controlled car. Mom told us, "He set his heart on getting that car and spent hours earning the money." Martha was committed to her friends but not to her schoolwork, requiring some major heart shirts to get her commitments into proper balance.
Sometimes parents are encouraged by the commitments they see their children make, and other times red flags go up, warning parents to take action. Kids can become so focused on what they want that they get angery when they can't get it. Helping our children adjust and balance their commitments is part of the heartwork necessary to develop maturity in their lives.
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