ROOTS AND WINGS: BOUNDARIES

Steve is a western man through and through. Yet, it's hard to know that unless you KNOW him. He grew up in New Mexico and southwest Oklahoma. He rode horses, herded cattle, had a show calf in 4-H, and spent alot of time outdoors hoeing and picking cotton.
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In Oklahoma, his family's farm was 160 acres in three different counties and two states. How can that happen? Well, the state line between the Texas panhandle and the southwest corner of Oklahoma went through their farm. Their front yard, porch, living room, and dining room were in Oklahoma. Their mailing address was Oklahoma. Jobs and school were in Oklahoma. Most of the farm was in Texas. They ate in Oklahoma and used the bathroom in Texas. Paying taxes took a little more effort and thought had to be taken as to what was built where.
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Boundaries are important to nations and landowners. They allow for national security, law, order, and predictable behavior. We hear talk daily of those who try to sneak across the boundary between Mexico and the USA. Africa and the Middle East seem to always war over their boundaries. Boundaries are important to their livelihood. At our house, we've seen most of the Western movies. Usually, there is some kind of boundary feud between the ranchers and the cattle men. The boundaries were important to their livelihood.
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Boundaries are important to people...relationships. They allow for security, law, order, and predictable behavior. Some peoples boundaries are too tight. Some people need to have more boundaries. It is important for us to develop a healthy sense of boundary. It takes consideration, prayer, and wisdom.
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As you raise your children, consider the following thoughts about boundaries, pray over them, and then pray for wisdom in how to consistently implement them:
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• We do a great injustice to children when we don't set boundaries. If children don't know what is expected of them, problems will follow them wherever they go...they will eventually sense that people prefer not to be around them. How sad!
• Unless you give consistent boundaries, there are no boundaries.
• Boundaries mean little without knowing the consequence up front.
• Boundaries and consequences = the law and the punishment.
• Boundaries need to be discussed and agreed upon in advance with all adults involved.
• Boundaries must be reasonable, age appropriate, and always always consistent.
• Consistent boundaries give children security!
• Consistent boundaries allow for order!
• Consistent boundaries allow for predictable behaviors from both parents and children.
• Boundaries give a better perspective.

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I have a better perspective of where I have lived and where I now live by the state boundaries shown on a USA map...Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, Utah, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Jersey. The boundaries show me where I've been and where I am going.

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It's a big confusing world. It's great for us to have perspective...to know where we've been and to know where we are going...our children need this, too.

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