My little boy is as ornery as the day is long; his little smile flashing just seconds before and after he does that little bit of mischief that he knows will bring Dad running. Time and time again I have to tell him "stop", "put that down", or simply "No". Often I have to say no several times to get his attention. Why do I say it? I've got to say it. Two year old boys shouldn't play with Ink Pens, or slam their toy cars against the table. I know he hears me the first time, but still I end up saying in multiple times. Why do I say it multiple times? I say it multiple times because I love him; that and things get broke and little boys get hurt. Sometimes multiple is better.
I've got a great wife and in some ways she is allot like my little boy, there are just things I had better say to her more than once. Even though she is like my boy in that I need to repeat certain things to her, what I have to say is different. When she picks up an ink pen, I am not worried about her safety. I can't recall ever seeing her play with cars, but if she did I seriously doubt she would bang them against the coffee table. What do I have to repeat to her time and time again? I have to tell her I love her and that she is beautiful. Why do I repeat this? For starters she reminds me if I don't. The second reason is that I think we all need to be say and hear these things. I didn't tell my wife on the day we were married "I Love You" and never utter those words again. I've told her time and time again those words. Why repeat them? I repeat them for the same reason I repeat things to my little boy. It's important. It's important my wife knows she is beautiful and that my little boy knows he needs to stop doing something before he gets hurt. Sometimes multiple is better. The Lord explains this while he is talking with Moses in the Old Testament about his commands.
Deuteronomy 6:7
7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
I know reading through Deuteronomy isn't the funnest reading out there, but the more I read, the more importance I see in the words found there. Deuteronomy 4:1; 5:1; 6:3; 6:4; 7:12; 9:1; 10:11; 13:3; 13:18; 20:3. In each of these verses you find the word listen. Why is this word repeated time and time again. It is repeated because listening is important. Listening to the word of God. Listening through reading what was said by both God and Moses. Listening to your heart. Listening through your prayers.
