My mission is simple. Shape and mold my precious little boys so they may become gracious, loving, caring and giving individuals whom deeply reflect God's love in their lives every day.
This task that I have accepted as the mother of these toddlers is filled with countless dirty chores, seemingly endless days (leading into nights), loving discipline that wears me down day after day, literally chasing after them as they run in opposite directions, constant repetition for the sake of learning, thankless meals prepared, and literally endless mountains laundry. This is indeed the most exhausted I have ever been (aside from pregnancy with them).
The reward is so sweet. Witnessing them hugging when "no one" is watching or watching our oldest sweetly leading our youngest gently by the hand to get a stamp at the end of library story time. These moments provide a beautiful slice of victory as I push through the battle in the trenches.
These battles being fought every day are to shape their character. It's most often an uphill battle -- alone, (with my husband gone at work during the day).
God is good to provide JUST enough strength to make it through these days with success, and grace when I really feel as though I haven't. Each day keeps me coming back (crawling back) to Him when the day is done as I gear up for yet another day tomorrow.
There are many great days of sweet victory. For these I am so thankful! But there are also many days in between...that's when you'll find me in the trenches. Not necessarily because I am emotionally low (although that does happen) but instead IN the action...AT the front lines. I don't want to miss a thing.
Life is SO short. My boys are a precious gift graciously given to me and my wonderful husband. EVERY DAY counts.
My job as a mom is to fight hard and not retreat -- even on days when it seems like I am fighting a losing battle. There's too much at stake -- their character and integrity. Strangely enough, I am coming to discover that it is JUST as much character shaping for me. Funny how that happens -- when we let it.
3 comments:
so true, so true. thanks for sharing.
Press on, friend! At the end of a tiring day, I find myself repeating over and over, "Just finish well!" until they are all in bed. Through the strength of Christ, we can finish well!
I always say that there is nothing as sanctifying in this world as raising CHILDREN. :)
I am here to tell you that it IS worth fighting those battles. I have a 13 (almost 14) year old, an 11 year old, and now Jack is 6 1/2 and even Jack is MUCH easier than he used to be. He was always in trouble til he was about 3 - and then the number of "good days" grew - and then they began to outnumber the "bad" - and then we slowly moved to this place we are, where punishment is rare. I am SO glad we didn't give up at the time, despite the exhaustion and frankly, the hopelessness we sometimes felt: "Will he EVER get this?"
"Hope" has been my watchword with Jack, especially. I have it hanging over his picture frame on the mantle. But our hope isn't in Jack himself, it's in the God who made Jack. :) And therein lies all the difference.
Even now the work for me is FAR from over, but now I have the experience of God's faithfulness to recall to mind.
(Be sure to remind me of that when I have another bad day!) :)
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