Stupid Games
Knipple isn’t playing with us he brings us another winner.
“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” When you first read that you may think I am talking about going to a carnival or theme park and spending crazy amounts of money for a prize you could buy at any Dollar tree for way less. Now, I know it is about the “Experience,” but come on now, how much are you gonna charge me to pop a balloon to win a fifty cent prize. Maybe it has always been that way, and I am just realizing it more taking 4 kids walking through a festival where they want to play every game known to mankind. Anyway, off my tangent, that really isn’t what I am focused on today. “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” has become a new slogan in our home. I am not sure if it is something my wife picked up while working at the school or if it is something her parents said when she was a kid. It is now funny though that as soon as we start to say it to our kids they can finish the statement. I know Dad, “you win stupid prizes.” Sometimes it can be used when Evie comes in the house with a bloody nose after wrestling with the older kids in the neighborhood. Other times it may involve our dog eating our kids food because they were to distracted by the tv to realize the plate was at eye level for a St. Bernard. What it really comes down to though for the most part in our home is discipline. Last week both girls had to sit in timeout for a while after school because the bus driver let us know that they wouldn’t stay in their seats and kept pretending to fall out. Other nights it may involve the boys losing their tablets because they forgot homework or just chose not to do it. And YES at times it may include getting their butt smacked if they really decide to play some stupid games. We still believe discipline starts in our home. Especially when our kids are young. Their has to be boundaries set. As Solomon says very clearly in Proverbs 13:24, “whoever spares the rod, hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” Now I know that can look different in every family, but the principle of discipline is the same. As a parent, you are meant to correct. To train up your child. To lead them. To be the example. I hate to say it but let me be clear, you were not meant to be your child’s best friend. They have enough friends, but they only have you as parents. Teachers are not meant to be your kids parents. Church leaders, though valuable, only spend so much time with your kids. You are called to be the parent. I know it isn’t fun and sometimes “hurts you more than it hurts them,” but it is needed in today’s world.
I say all this and am so passionate about it because more and more we will have people come into the church getting, “Stupid prizes because they have played stupid games.” Men coming in broken wondering why their marriage is falling apart because they looked at porn. Women coming in wondering why their husband won’t trust them anymore after they had an affair. People coming in broken wondering why who can’t pay their bills because they spent it all gambling. Just this past week I dealt with a guy getting sent back to prison because he took his “weed vape” into the D.O.C. You play stupid games you win stupid prizes. In today’s culture though because we have taken discipline out of our homes and schools, we try to blame someone else, and then can’t understand when consequences happen. I remember growing up it was the analogy of you touch a hot stove, you are going to get burned.
Our kids are learning that in our home, and I would encourage all of you reading this that if you have kids, please take discipline serious. I know it is not easy. I know there will be days where your kids cry and it would be easier to just give in. Show them love, and sometimes that means “tough love.” In the long run your kids will respect you more for it, and one day when they are parents themselves, they can pass those same lessons on.
Maybe as you are reading this, you are realizing that you are the one playing stupid games.
Stop. Repent. Turn. There is forgiveness. As I John 1:9 says, If you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive.”
Now please let me be clear, because this gets misconstrued at times. Just because you are forgiven, doesn’t mean their won’t be consequences. There is a big difference. As a dad, my kids can confess to things, and I will forgive them, tell them I still love them, “now go sit in timeout.” So maybe next time you go to do something stupid remember my wife saying, “Play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.”
Make it a Merited Monday! God is good…