I have a parenting goal. I would like for my son to stand before me and say, "Father, I confess that I do not understand your discipline in the matter at hand. Here we disagree on what is good. But you, oh blessed father, have shown yourself in my life to give good counsel and have demonstrated yourself to be wiser than I in the ways of the world. Not only that, but the great sacrifices you have made for my protection, instruction, and flourishing in life have not gone unnoticed. I would be a fool to set aside how diligently and consistently you have acted for my good. So though your learned instruction seems to me to be suffering, for father that is indeed what it seems to my understanding, I will trust and obey. Nay, father, with great joy I will obey and with gratitude in my heart to you for your sweet, loving discipline."

What? I don't think that's too much to ask. I want him to one day have the wisdom and maturity to see that I truly and deeply desire his good. It shouldn't be hard for him to see all that we have done for him. Is it too much to expect a child to see and remember the great demonstrations of sacrifice and love and respond with gratitude and trust? Surely not.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.