Since this blog will end up being a blog of your pictures, memories of your childhood, and all the dumb things I've done as your mom...I will take the liberty to write to you my HOPES and intentions as well...
So, my boys (maybe daughter, too, one day),
I am meeting with other women on Tuesday mornings going through a book called "Freedom for Mothers." I almost didn't join because that is one of the 2 mornings I am kid-free. I had a good friend ask me what the very use of my free time would be...and my mind came up with a 100 other things to fill that time doing. My mind spurted ideas. My heart spurted truth. There is NO better time spent than soaking in the WORD...it is NEVER time wasted...
"As the rain and snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is MY WORD that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty..." Isaiah 55:10-11
We are learning about abiding in Christ and yielding our hearts and minds to His will for my home.
This is actually very difficult because the priorites I am prone to are NOT usually aligned with God's desire for me (our family). My priority should be: God, Chris, Kids, My Work/ Home, Ministry.
Often, those are WAY out of order (easy to put you kids first, then myself!).
I was reading this morning about three gifts the Bible teaches parents to give their children...
Three GIFTS to Give your Children:
1. unconditional love
2. discipline
3. "Bread of Life"
#1. Unconditional Love. To tell me to unconditionally love you boys is about as silly as reminding me to breathe. I can get pretty upset with you, Hunter and Charlie, and it fares nothing on my insurmountable love for you. I'm "maxed out" on my love tank for each of you. In fact, Hunter, you just asked me as I was putting you down for nap (one week before your 4th birthday!) if I will love this baby too? I told you "I ALREADY DO!" You smiled and said "me too."
#2. Discipline. Now that's another story. This is a hard one. We hate it quite frankly. We have already seen the benefits of discipline and we trust God's Word when He over and over again (especially in Proverbs) clearly states that if we LOVE our children, then we will discipline you. Ouch. We never want to discipline or give you consequences for your decisions, but we trust God when He says that it is 100% for YOUR BENEFIT (to take the easy way out would be 100% for MY benefit).
It is a heck of a lot easier to ignore anything needing discipline but I heed what I see written clearly:
"Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death." Proverbs 19:18
Death is a strong inference. But it is true. Our "outward" actions reflect the state of our hearts...most of our discipline has very little to do with what you are actually doing. Your heart and soul is what your Dad and I hope to "train" well because we love you so much. And unconditionally, remember? :)
#3. "Bread of Life" or the Word of God. Your dad and I cannot make the decision to accept or reject Christ for you, nor should we. However, our hope is to create a home where you can choose for yourself whether or not to follow Christ. Why would we not share with you the ENTIRE reason you were created and the MOST important thing in life? More than teaching you about God we hope you "taste and see" Him through our lives. Through our faces, our hearts, our failures, our finances, our words...
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7
We WILL love you, discipline you and teach you God's Word. And we will fail. Often. So, much grace and forgiveness are asked already of you kids. I do want what's best for you.
Repititiously overly stated but never completely comprehended...I love you, children of mine.
Mom
