My Brother's Keeper

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" -- Genesis 4:8-9

If you have more than one child, you've experienced a sibling fight. These are some of the nastiest interactions possible between two human beings...and they're related!!! My kids, having spent almost the whole summer home together finally boiled over yesterday and went after each other. It always makes me, as a parent, feel like I somehow failed them. Don't get me wrong, they are teenagers and I know I'm not personally responsible for their behavior but I really wish I knew what it was I should have said or done to impart to them how critical it is that they respect and love one another.

What gets me about the story is that there isn't really any indication of what impact the sibling fight that led to death for one and banishment for the other had on the parents. Cain had to answer to God, of course, but did he have to answer to Adam and Eve? I can only imagine the pain they felt as parents having essentially lost both of their sons in the blink of an eye.

I don't have any great solutions for you other than to offer this: Make sure they know you love them. Make sure there are very clear consequences for future infractions. Tell them how it hurts you to see them act that way. Show them how Jesus would handle such a situation and how God wants them to handle it.

It is a parent's responsibility to raise our children knowing who God is and why a relationship with Christ is necessary. It is our duty to be their example of that. The rest is up to them...