It always amazes me how my nephew, Jester Sean would show obedience to his mother. His love and allegiance go out only to her--no question about that. And this is inspite the fact that he got scolded almost everyday by her mom. I remember that there was one time I asked him to do something but he refused to do so without his mom's consent. I wondered, how can he be so obedient (loyal) to her? I don't scold him the way she does? I just don't get it. I couldn't seem to comprehend how his innocent love can actually lead him to obey no other person but his mom.

There probably isn't any easy way of handling my own confusion but I found the following realization somewhat acceptable to satisfy this little argument that kept on going in my mind.

I realized that my life right now is surrounded by people (men or women) who are in sinful relationships (meaning people who are: living-in with girlfriend/boyfriend, having sexual/physical relationship with someone outside marriage, in adulterous/bigamous/polygamous relationships, homosexual relationships among others). And despite the fact that these people perfectly know that the situations they are in are morally unacceptable and destructive to society (and to themselves), they just couldn't simply live their lives without these relationships. For whatever reason, they find it too difficult to leave either their partner or the relationship. I am disturbed, deeply disturbed that people no longer live by their conscience and that society seems to slowly accept that this is but a fact of life.

On the other hand, I also am reminded of some of my friends especially those who are in community who managed to follow a certain way of life...those who would rather be lonely than be in these kinds of relationships...those who believe in abstinence before marriage...those who are single and yet meaningfully living their lives.

Personally, I think that what separates those who can and cannot say "no" to a sinful relationship is a personal and deep relationship with God. It might be difficult to affirm a strong correlation between one's relationship with God and the decision to stay in or out of a sinful relationship but based on my own experience, my relationship with God compels me to do ONLY that what is pleasing and honorable in His sight. And for me though, being in sinful relationship is never a part of God's plan for us.

I will be forever grateful that God has somehow sheltered me from living the same life. If not for my relationship with Him, I probably would end up being in the same miserable situation. I owe my wonderful life to God. I must say that my life has not been easy; there were high mountains to climb and few storms to weather (and this holds true even in matters of my own heart) but God remains to be the Source of my joy and a Great Comfort in times of loneliness.

My life is a product of an everyday struggle to choose life over death, to choose good over evil and to choose God over other things. It knows no other love than that which springs from God and follows no other road than that which leads to Him. I want to believe that if I ever obey God, it is not out of fear but out of love. Such obedience is not inherent, I believe. It is but a response to God's abiding love for me over the years inspite of my unworthiness. I realized that when one is deeply loved, there seems to be no better way to respond than to obey the one to whom one has found and experienced love. Such, I think is better explained by a love between mother and child...between my sister and her son, Jester Sean...between God and me.

Note:
I obtained the photo from the web.