I must have said that a dozen times today if I said it once.
Let me start from the beginning.
Breakfast time brings on a storm of its own most
mornings. Many voices. Many choices.
Little time. Little
patience. This morning was no
different. We left the house in a rush hoping that we would not be late.
I prayed aloud for my boys as I drove them to school (they
are both schooled out of our home). I
prayed for their hearts and their self-control.
I prayed for blessing and learning.
Then I dropped them off and prayed for me. Yes, me.
I pleaded with God for the wisdom that I knew he promised in his
Word. I know all the ways that I am supposed
to parent. I know how I am supposed to
respond to my kids. Conventional wisdom, though, had failed. I needed unconventional wisdom – the one that
God gifts with abundance if I would only ask.
Today I asked.
It did not take long before my 3yo
little guy tested my resolve. I held him
tightly as he kicked and screamed and tried to worm his head around to bite me. He then brought out the big guns and yelled
at the top of his lungs, “Dummy!” I
gently looked at him and responded with, “I love you anyway.” Now, friends, at this time I certainly did
not like the position we were in. I did
not like him at the moment. Yet, God’s
wisdom poured into those simple words. Love
hit the front of hurt. Love changed my
heart and kept me from getting lost in the situation. Love planted another seed into my little guy’s
heart that would hopefully grow into a feeling of security in our family and knowledge
of a loving God who never stops loving us.
Later that afternoon as I was
working on dinner, a little voice in the corner of the kitchen spoke. “Guess what, Mommy?” “What?”
“I love you.” “I love you too.” I know it was a little thing. I know that tomorrow things will be
crazy. I know that there were more
moments of frustration than that one moment of blessing. I also know that God changes hearts – even the
hearts of little people.
Thank you, God, for answering my
desperate prayer for wisdom today. Please
forgive me for trying to do this parenting thing in my own sad wisdom. Thank you that you don’t chide me for asking
again and again, but that you are there to encourage and help. Please show me how to love my kids more.
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