Today, we’re talking about justice. On today’s podcast, you’ll hear us chuckling about how I ambushed Anna. I just tossed her the opening at the last minute and she rose to the challenge. Pretty cool stuff!
Seriously, though, Anna exudes daily cool stuff without thinking a thing about it. Yep, she simply blesses the rest of us. Like her thoughts on teaching my grandkids to love justice.
Yard Game Justice
Did you know you can use yard games to teach your kids to be just? Yep, because yard games teach children to appreciate the rule of law.
“I actually enjoy making up rules with young children. Even imaginary games have to have rules. The world you are imagining has to function in a prescribed way so everyone understands, that, yes, the stuffed animals get to fly; or, no, they don’t. That’s cheating,” she explains.
One afternoon in the backyard, Anna’s nieces and nephews dumped out all her collection of toddler plastic sports equipment—plastic bats, bowling pins, golf clubs, whiffle balls, etc.
Then, they invented a new sport. There was a whole set of rules, including a judge because they needed a referee, an ump. One of the kids designated themselves the judge of the sport. They had championship rounds in a bracket.
Imagine the bright colors and hilarity. They even gave their new sport a name.
“I don’t remember now what name, but they invented trophies. We had to go inside with the popsicle sticks and glue guns and make trophies,” Anna laughs. “The reason it was fun is because they invented rules. The rules are what made the game fun.”
And harmonious.
I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” ~Thomas Jefferson
Social Justice Or Just Plain Just?
If we want social justice in our nation, we need to raise kids who love justice.
So much of what we hear about social justice is based on codependency. How do we differentiate between compassion and codependence? How do we teach our children to love true justice?
Playing with your kids teaches them to distinguish between real compassion and its imposter, co-dependency. No wonder I always say fun can be sacred.
Defining Compassionate, Just, or Co-dependent
Maybe like me, you find co-dependency confusing. Probably because I grew up in an alcoholic home. When we’re doused in co-dependency growing up, sometimes it’s hard to shake it as an adult. So first, we need a good definition of co-dependency.
Wikipedia defines co-dependency this way: excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction.
Camp Krafve Definition of Codependent—A person is co-dependent who gets their self-esteem based on accomplishments and what significant others think, rather than being confident in God’s design.
Camp Krafve Definition of COMPASSIONATE : Confidently stewarding personal resources by sharing.
Yard games are a marvelous tool for teaching kids to love justice because they have to agree on the rules. In other words, you can’t just cherry pick justice for some people and not others. A just leader will guard the welfare of everyone. And still make decisions in the best interest of the person standing in front of you.
Camp Krafve Definition of Just: Seeking to be like God by loving people with their best interests in mind, while guarding the welfare of others.
Justice and Patience
“First thing about I think about when you talk about parenting and justice is patience. Because it takes so much patience. I feel like my kids came into the world seeking justice,” laughs Anna. It takes so much patience as a parent or teacher to let a child tell you their whole tale when they see justice. Groan! So much detail.
Actually, I sometimes hear myself complaining to close friends in way too much detail, too!
“On my bad days—days when I’m tired or we’re in a stage where we’ve done a lot of it—it’s easy to cut them off mid sentence and say, Okay, but is this really a big deal,” confesses Anna.
However, she tries never to undermine kids who seek justice.
“Because listening to a perceived injustice is part of recognizing and valuing others in our world.
Yep, I’ve noticed injustice makes us all very angry, no matter our age. Of course, we’re living in a very angry culture right now. That’s one reason we want the next generation to have a rock solid understanding of justice vs. injustice. We don’t want our kids to be fooled by foolishness. We want to raise kids who are just.
Justice is always an issue. We ignore justice at our own detriment. We put ourselves and our nation in jeopardy when we ignore injustice.
It’s a wonderful thing when kids begin to understand that the rules of the game are in place to serve people.
Why do we have laws?
What is the law supposed to do for us? Why do we have laws in our country? Why do we have rules in our homes?
The Book of Romans answers these questions thoroughly, but here’s the silver bullet: The reason we have law is to expose our own sin and point us to a God who is just.
He is simultaneously just and merciful. That’s why humans struggle to attain justice; his perfect balance is beyond our imagination. It boils down to sacrifice. He ultimately sacrificed His own Son for us. And then, in perfect life-sustaining power, He rose from the dead.
When we teach our kids about justice, we should take note—God’s justice is sacrificial and miraculous.
Justice Lives in Peace
What I love about Anna’s story is it means the big kids very humbly made the afternoon fun for the little ones. To me, that feels like justice triumphing over selfishness. Everyone wins.
Fairness is self-centered. Fairness can be symptom of co-dependence.
Justice is others’ focused. Justice lives in peace.
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? ~Micah 6:8 NKJV
The big kids put all their skills and knowledge to work on behalf of those younger cousins.
“And not being too cool or feeling the world revolved around them to such degree that they required big fancy sporting equipment that we didn’t have in our household of toddlers, “ Anna says. “They just used what was in front of them in the dearest way.”
Sane, Not Crazy, Mommies
We know there are mommies out there whose only sane minute in a crazy day is a podcast.
If you already know Christ and want your children to join you in believing God is the most awesome Being in the universe, Anna has great news for YOU!
“Seeking justice in your family, if you teach your children that, they will find God. He is the source of all true justice,” she says.
Wow! Seeking justice is one more way we look for Him! I never even put that together until Anna said it on the podcast.
“It’s why our culture is so confused, because they say He doesn’t exist. So, of course, justice is impossible to find,” she adds.
Uncomfortable With Justice?
Are you thinking God’s justice makes you very uncomfortable. I totally understand. Seriously.
Let me join Anna and say He is an orderly God who designed the universe to be beautiful for us. He has a plan for your life.
If you feel uncomfortable with His justice, please reach out to us. We want you to know He’s merciful and part of His plan is second chances.
“You can also contact Him. Please, please talk to God about whatever is on your heart. We would love to do that with you. Years ago I asked God to make me a person of constant prayer, so when people share with me what they would like me to pray, I get excited. Because it’s another conversation I get to have with the One who loves me most.”
God sent His Son, Jesus to die not he cross for our sins. Perhaps, you’ve heard that before. If not, we definitely want to share this great news with you.
🙂
cathy
Jack Blocker and Troup Womens Civic Organization
Here’s a shout out to the Troup Women’s Civic Group. Thank you for including me in such a tender conversation! You ladies are powerhouses for good! ❤️
I loved interrupting our program to cheer with you for our American Idol favorite Jack Blocker, my sister’s son-in-law. (Yes, we’re very partial to sweet Jack and Georgia!)
Inside Out Church Update
Thank you to all who’ve prayed and followed our Inside Out Church event at Galilee Baptist Church. We were so happy to welcome many neighbors and friends to worship outside with us for 3 Sundays in April. It was a beautiful display of people from all walks of life uniting together to glorify God in His creation!
A special thanks to our co-hosts, Corinth Baptist Bullard, First Baptist Tyler, New Hope Baptist Bullard, and South Spring Tyler. Also, a big shout out to our good neighbors, Pine Cove Christian Camps and Jasper Ventures for donating delicious food! And to YOU for all the prayers!
May we pray together?
Dear good Father, You are the God of Justice. We want to be like You, but justice scares us all a bit since we know we also need Your mercy. Thank You for paying the sacrificial price so we could have mercy. We are grateful to live in a land where justice can still prevail by Your might. Help us to teach the next generations to cherish You and love Your justice. Help us worship You as we go through our days by loving others with compassion, not co-dependence. Teach us to know the difference. Bless us now because that is Your heart’s desire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
We LOVE to Hear From YOU!
When has justice turned out to be a mercy to you? How are you teaching your children to look to God for justice? Would you be interested in getting resources to small churches? If so, keep reading below. ❤️
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More Favorite Quotes
All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” ~Winston Churchill
“Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson,They shall be as wool.’” ~Isaiah 1:17-18, NKJV
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” ~Micah 6:8 (We’re talking about humility on an upcoming episode about Collecting Bugs and Flowers, so watch for that!)
“It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.” ~Proverbs 21:15, NKJV
❤️❤️❤️
Cathy Krafve, host of Fireside Talk Radio and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations and Marriage Conversation: From Coexisting to Cherished. We welcome your stories, ideas, and questions at CathyKrafve.com.
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