Three-and-a-half is a tough age to negotiate with. Jude spends a good amount of time, it seems, having tantrums, being sneaky, or holding his ground on whatever issue. The other day, I figured out a way to prevent any future tantrums and get full cooperation from out little Jude. The secret? Give him his way all the time.
Yeah...not gonna happen.
Luckily, that was not my only thoughtful insight. I have also been convicted lately that I should be embracing what I see as my children's (spouse's, friends', or my own) weakness and try to see them the way that God sees them. It's hard to realize that the things about my children that I find the most frustrating are things that God has designed in them to bring glory to Him in some way. They may not be old enough to know exactly how to use these tools yet, but I'm starting to understand that it's my job to help them see.
Where I see stubbornness ("Your shoes are on the wrong feet, let me do it...please!"),
God sees perseverance.
Where I see messiness ("Why are there a million little pieces of paper cut up all over the floor???!!!"),
God sees creativity.
Where I see shyness ("They never do anything on command..."),
God sees humbleness.
Where I hear a million annoying questions ("For the hundredth time, I DON'T KNOW!"),
God hears curiosity.
Where I see danger ("Do not run away from me...you could get lost/taken/hurt!"),
God sees fearlessness.
My prayer is now, not to give me patience or insight on how to deal with the character traits that I find frustrating, but to help me embrace those things and show my children how they can use those traits to bring glory to the Lord. I don't want to punish those things about my children that God intended/created in them for His purpose.
Yeah...not gonna happen.
Luckily, that was not my only thoughtful insight. I have also been convicted lately that I should be embracing what I see as my children's (spouse's, friends', or my own) weakness and try to see them the way that God sees them. It's hard to realize that the things about my children that I find the most frustrating are things that God has designed in them to bring glory to Him in some way. They may not be old enough to know exactly how to use these tools yet, but I'm starting to understand that it's my job to help them see.
Where I see stubbornness ("Your shoes are on the wrong feet, let me do it...please!"),
God sees perseverance.
Where I see messiness ("Why are there a million little pieces of paper cut up all over the floor???!!!"),
God sees creativity.
Where I see shyness ("They never do anything on command..."),
God sees humbleness.
Where I hear a million annoying questions ("For the hundredth time, I DON'T KNOW!"),
God hears curiosity.
Where I see danger ("Do not run away from me...you could get lost/taken/hurt!"),
God sees fearlessness.
Where I see weakness, God sees strength.
My prayer is now, not to give me patience or insight on how to deal with the character traits that I find frustrating, but to help me embrace those things and show my children how they can use those traits to bring glory to the Lord. I don't want to punish those things about my children that God intended/created in them for His purpose.
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| Photo credit: Jamie Fleeman Photography |
2 Corinthians 12:9-The Message
7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
I love this post and how you consistantly refer to guidance from the Bible for parenting. Your children and Pack are so blessed to have such a wonderful Christian mom & wife.
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