Learning from my children

James 1:19-21  "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's
                          anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all   
                          moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,
                          which can save you."

Powerful words.  Words that I need to be reminded of on a regular basis.  Let's be honest here.  I am so quick to get caught up in the daily grind of my mommy duties.  A normal day consists of Eric leaving for work (if he's on day shift) before the sun comes up and coming home at 8pm.  Night shift...ugh...that's another story.  (Don't get me wrong; his job is an amazing blessing to our family and I wouldn't be able to stay home and care for our children without it!)  So, the kids and I wake up early and the craziness begins.  They need their juice, decide what they want for breakfast, dogs need to be let out and fed (and pray that our chocolate lab puppy will be some what calm and not chewing on everything in sight, which is where I need to be reminded to hold my tongue and have patience), make coffee or else I might not function, get kids dressed, teeth and hair brushed, and somewhere in the midst of it all, I have to get myself ready.  Let's face it; these days, I'm lucky if my hair is dry and I have on makeup.  Most days, I'm unlucky.  Should be REAL interesting to see my appearance when baby #3 is added in the mix!  And then, with a mad rush, we are out the door to take Cole to preschool.  It takes us a good 20-25 minutes to get there, and he is supposed to be there around 9am.  Right...that's not usually what time we arrive.  (Once again, being brutally honest here; the truth hurts!)  If we are there by 9:15, it's been a good morning.  Thank goodness his teacher is a friend of ours and is really patient and laid back with us.  And it helps that I'm not the only mom there who isn't the most punctual person in the world.  Thank goodness for our laid back church preschool!!!  And that's just the early morning.  The day doesn't end, nor does the craziness.  It's so easy for me to be a little snappy with my kids when they don't listen and I'm stressed because we have a million things to get accomplished that day.  For example, a normal response from the kids when they are asked to do something they really don't want to do is, "Why???"  And a normal response they will get from Eric and I is, "Because I said so!"  Ok, so maybe not the best answer, but when you hear "why" 50 times a day, you lose a little patience and have to remind them you are the parent and they just need to do it, well, because you said so.  Ah, but be careful what you say...little ears actually do listen when you think they aren't, and words will be repeated!  Case in point:  The other day Raleigh and I were playing at home while Cole was in school.  My sweet daughter looks at me and says, "Ok, bye Mommy, I gotta go!"  I say, "Where are you going?" and she replies, "Starbucks!"  (Yeah, that's my girl!)  And I say, "But why?"  Her response, of course?!  "Because, I said so!"  Did I sense a slight bit of attitude in that response?  Yes.  Was it funny?  Absolutely.  But the point is this...she did exactly what I do.  When asked why, she responded quickly and maybe a little "attitude-y."  It hit me...she's listening to everything I say, even when I think she's not.  So am I saying the right things?  Am I telling her about the love of Jesus enough?  And what are my actions telling her, because those to will be passed on as well.  Am I reading my Bible enough in front of her?  Am I showing her how to have a servants heart and not just telling her and Cole to have one?  Am I overflowing with the love and patience that Christ calls us to have at all times?  Makes you stop and think.  I am so far from perfect, it's not even funny.  BUT, I do have a God that loves me and is patient with me always.  And he wants me to show my kids the same kind of love.  So I need the reminders, the words from the Bible such as those in James to keep me focused.  Because without Him and His guidance, I'm doomed.

Mark 10:14-15  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

Another powerful one.  Here, we are called to have a "child-like" faith; one that doesn't question, but one that just faithfully believes.  Cole gave me a gut wrenching reminder of this a couple of weeks ago.  It was a Saturday night, and Eric was working night shift.  That afternoon, Cole began to run a fever.  It was a little over 102, so high enough he wasn't feeling good, but not high enough to become really worried.  Well, things quickly changed.  That evening, even after Tylenol, I noticed he was getting worse.  His fever was rising steadily and he was acting much worse.  He began to have chills and moaning from the pain.  An hour before it was time to give him more medicine, his fever was 104.3...half an hour later, we hit a temperature of 105.  To say that I was panicking would be a sad understatement.  My child could barely get out of bed so that I could get him into a cool bath, and I'm thinking he could start convulsing at any point.  I called Eric at work and told him I was taking him to the ER.  He, of course, rushed home very worried as well.  Waiting for Eric, I drew a cool bath for Cole to lay in, desperate, praying, and crying in fear for my child's wellbeing.  And all of the sudden, Cole looks at me, such an innocent 4 year old child, and through his misery says, "Mom, do not worry; God WILL  make me feel better."  I lost it.  He was SO right.  Here I am, the parent, and although I know God can make him better, I didn't trust He would at that moment.  All I saw was an extremely sick boy with a scary high fever, and nothing else.  But my child didn't worry.  He knew (child-like faith) that all would be well, because God was there with him. What a reminder God gave me, and through His grace, we were able to break his fever and take him to the doctor the next morning.  He was feeling much better a few days later.  But that is a moment that I will never forget.  Phillipians 4:6-7  "Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in everything, by prayer and peition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me such precious children.  And thank You for using them to teach me about the kind of mom and person that You desire for me to be.  I am so blessed that You have entrusted me with their lives, and I will always strive to be for them what you called me to be.  I love you.  Amen.