As I sit poised to type, Gid is playing with toys while Jonah is trying his best to not get frustrated at his younger brother for not playing the way he wants to play. Jonah sets all the toys up in a line, and they each have a purpose in his game, in his mind. Gid likes to pick up one toy at a time, make a noise with it and then dispose of it and move on to the next toy. It is interesting and wonderful to watch them play and I think about what implications their playing today has on their future.
I see Jonah's neat & orderly personality in the way he plays. And even though Gid is still very young, I see his personality coming out too. As they play with their toys, each learning to tolerate the other, what sort of foundation are they laying? Jonah is coming to realize that not everything can be his way, and that caring for his brother means that he has to sometimes defer. At the same time Gid is learning that playing together means you can't "steal" your brothers toys, and that when someone is upset with you they might show it by raising their voice.
As I watch them play, I realize that our little family is a reflection of life. Everything we do here in our home has an implication for them later in life. Chores teach them responsibility, punishments teach them consequences, doing activities as a family teach them the importance of enjoying life. Everything, everything, everything we do here has an impact on their future; on the men they become, on the type of students, athletes, friends, employees, husbands, and fathers they become.
This is an awesome responsibility that we as parents have been given. We are given these precious children as a bit of clay and God asks us to mold them into something wonderful for him. It is our job to create out of our children works of art. This task seems impossible and in fact I know that without the help and grace of God it is impossible. As I look at my children today, I will ask God for grace. The grace for Mike and I to mold them into the wonderful and beautiful works of art that they can be. For eyes to see the strengths not only the flaws, ears to listen without judgement, hands to help not to hurt, and words to encourage and not condemn.
And God will answer. His grace is always sufficent.
3 comments:
Love this post... I always learn something new from you and you have the most beautiful way of putting things into words. Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration in the journey of parenthood. Love the way you view being a mom and seeing your boys as little works of art.
This blog seems to have brought out the philosopher in you...
I like checking in every couple of days to see what's going on with you guys and what's going through your mind. Thanks for the glimpses.
I shared this with Tricia and thought it is a good description of motherhood. "When you decided to become a mother, you gave your heart permission to forever walk around outside your body. When that little wiggling child was placed in your arms, you knew nothing would ever be the same again. As kids change and grow, come and go, just keep the hearth fires burning. And remember that mothers should be like quilts, keeping kids warm without smothering them. For their part, kids are like sponges--they absorb all your strength and leave you limp, but give them a squeeze and you get it all back! Child rearing is a pretty cool job--the biggest "heir-conditioning" job ever!"
(This is from a book titled "Help, I Can't Stop Laughing!" by Ann Spangler. It's cheery reading.) Continue your great work as a loving mother!
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