2 Kings 17: Stiff Necked People

It is very hard to read these verses today and not think about what went down yesterday afternoon. We have come so far, however we aren't there yet. I saw old patterns resurfacing. The situation was painful and overwhelming, still Im proud to say I stayed calm. No matter how calm

and clear I may have been, It doesn’t erase the ache of watching a child wrestle with stubbornness and broken cycles. Thankfully, growth is happening in both of us—even in the middle of hard things.

“However they did not listen, but stiffened their necks as did their fathers who did not believe (trust in, rely on, remain steadfast to) the Lord their God.” 2 Kings 17:14 AMP

“But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God.” 2 Kings 17:14 NLT

The trigger yesterday was the boundaries I had set on Keimani’s phone. When he realized those limits kept him from listening to music, he exploded. The words that came out of his mouth were shocking. He declared that he wanted to live with his bio mom. Children in split homes often make threats like that—“I’ll go live with Dad” or “I’ll go live with Mom.” In this case, the way he dug in his heels was destructive and deeply inappropriate.

Slamming doors turned into throwing things. Then he put his fist through the wall. It was obvious he wasn’t coming down from this one. I told him firmly he needed to stop slamming doors and calm down. The verbal explosion that followed made it clear this was beyond what I could de-escalate.

I told him: if you don’t calm down, I will have to call the police. That is not a statement I make lightly as a single mom. In the past, I probably would have raised my voice, which only would have poured fuel on the fire. This time, I kept my composure. When he refused to calm down, and sadly I made the call.

Dialing 911 was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. The situation had moved far beyond my control. My heart breaks when I see him fall back into these patterns, and I whisper to him often, “This is not you, baby. This is not who you are.”

What weighs on me almost as much as the meltdown itself is what follows. The shame. The embarrassment. The cycle of regret that eats away at his confidence. I can only imagine how

small, scared, and ashamed he feels when the dust settles. Those are the moments I long to cover him with compassion, while still holding firm to the boundaries that are meant to protect both of us. This is not simply a Keimani problem. It's not even a ME problem. This is truly a direct reflection of our human condition.

The song Something Has to Break by Red Rocks Worship has been playing in my head all morning. Some days it feels like we’ve taken five steps forward; other days, like we’ve slipped backwards. Im very thankful Scripture shows us this cycle is not new. Humanity has always been stubborn, stiff-necked, resistant to the very boundaries meant to keep us safe.

My role is to do what I can:

• Hold firm boundaries.

• Pray without ceasing.

• Extend compassion.

• Work with professionals.

• Reward right behavior.

I couldn’t help but picture how frustrating and scary it must have been to live in those days, when people continually chose detestable things. Sadly the same stubbornness shows up in us today. The heart of God hasn’t changed—His desire is still to protect, restore, and draw us back to Himself.