Skip to main content

Tough Love

In the story of Joshua, verse 17, we witness a story of tough love. Joshua used this approach with the people of Israel (people of Joseph) as they grumbled, because they felt they weren't allotted enough land. They thought they were too great, too numerous, and too blessed to not get more land, so they complained to Joshua. Joshua said, 'since you are so numerous and since the land is not enough for you, then you can go up into the forest and clear the land yourselves.' But the people still didn't like that idea. They were afraid of the Canaanites and the others who lived in the surrounding areas. Instead of Joshua feeling sorry for them and just giving them something for nothing, he made them work for it. And he did so in an unyielding, caring and encouraging way. Tough love.

Tough love is about ensuring people earn their keep. This way they will come to appreciate things. I learned this with my kids a long time ago yet it's still difficult sometimes, because when you see your loved ones in "pain", you want to jump in and help. But "no pain, no gain." They have to do it for themselves. That's how we all learn to navigate through life. I know now, after much trial and error, the things I always gave my kids left little gratitude and appreciation from them. Consequently, I learned to lead from an unwavering place of gentle nudging and persuasion. And the outcome has been better and more effective. Tough love.

Joshua gave the people something they could be proud of. Empowerment. He told them, 'you are numerous and very powerful. Clear the land of the Canaanites and its farthest limits will be yours. Yes the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out. I know you can.' He believed in them. Now, that's motivation.

So in essence I'm taking a play out of Joshua's play book. He wanted them to develop their own drive and determination to do it themselves. And that's what tough love is all about.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Protecting My Peace - Day 98 - Momentum and Movement, That’s What's Up

Click to listen to current podcast episode. “Never Giving Up” are power-words — strong affirmations that give us momentum and movement. That’s what’s up. We can do so much more in our lives when we have momentum and movement. It’s about standing, literally and not sitting or laying around feeling sorry for ourselves. I used to do that once upon a time and that sorrowful thinking is for the birds. We don’t have to be down. We can get up and get going even if we start small. In fact, I love starting small, because it helps set a firm foundation of habits and routines. Momentum and movement will help us get and maintain a position of strength to do what God says we can do. CLICK  to get my latest ebook collection that will help you get MOVING regarding the things you want in your life.  
Post a Comment
Read more

Protecting My Peace - Day 96 - Disciplining Ourselves for Next Level Greatness

Click to listen to today's podcast episode. When it comes to next level greatness, we have to know that applies to us, not just everyone else. Do you know what God has for you? Do you? He has GREATNESS for you. Yes, YOU -- all of us. It's about doing what you can do and only you can do. You are the only one with your DNA -- none of us. is the same Yet, even when we're feeling down, discouraged, and out, those emotions are only temporary. None of us has it all together. Sometimes I procrastinate and put things off when I know I should be doing better. Yet, I am not as diligent and disciplined as I can be sometimes. Like when it comes to working out, I delay it, because I don't like it anymore. And although I love reading the bible, I haven't been reading it as often as I should lately. Yes, I, Sharon, the Faith Coach, do not do the things I'm supposed to do when I'm supposed to do them. And that my dear friends should not come as a shock to no one. It certa...
Post a Comment
Read more

God is Real

I've often had conversations about how we know God is real, about how we know His spirit lives, about how we know we are spiritual beings in human form (not the other way around). The answers lie in the beginning starting with the living  spirit of God and how the world began. God is Real. He's a living breathing spirit, an organism.  God is love . I often wonder how it is that some people think the opposite though. That the world began with a bang, a big bang, a black hole, whatever else they want to call it. The question I always raise to such a "theory" is, how was love created? How was flesh, blood, bones, or our souls created? What I mean by soul is that part of us that perceives "silently" what we do, think, believe, feel, and our mind, our will, our intellect, our emotions. Science or no bang or hole of any sort can explain that. If science can indeed come up with an explanation that does not include God, then let me know. In fact, let us all kno...
7 comments
Read more