The Men In My Life

The arrival of our new little boy means I am officially outnumbered at our house. 3 boys, 1 girl. Our cat is a girl, but since she seems to be waging war on my carpet and nightly tries to steal my pillow, I'd hardly put her in my camp. Anybody want a cat? Thankfully, all of my boys seem to respect the carpet and none of them have tried to steal my pillow. Stealing sleep is a completely different issue.

Our younger son, Bryant, arrived at 2:45am on February 9th. He has been an absolute joy to our family and we are so very thankful for him. His arrival has caused me to reflect upon some of the wise parenting advice given to me over the years. Shortly after Jackson's arrival, my Grandma Marge wisely told me that I should always be mindful of the fact that I am not raising children, I am raising adults. Digesting these words can cause a new mama to feel quite daunted, but these words have actually given me much courage and purpose.

I'll be the first to admit that being a full-time mommy can sometimes feel a little mundane and purposeless. (Is purposeless a word? You understand what I mean so therefore, it is!) It is in the seemingly purposeless moments of picking up plastic soldiers, cleaning peanut buttery fingerprints off of the table and folding tiny socks that I am reminded of my Grandma's wisdom. As I require Jackson to do more chores around the house I sometimes think, "Gee whiz, this would be so much easier and faster to just do this myself." Then the words remind me that patiently teaching my son to pick up his toys results in far more than the temporary result of a clean home, it results in teaching long-term responsibility and work ethic. Certainly there are more anecdotal examples, but I think you get the idea. Continually reminding myself of my Grandma's wisdom has truly shaped my mothering and makes the seemingly mundane tasks of the day look more like an investment than a mere chore. Isn't that what we are doing, for better or worse, investing in our children's character?

Let us be challenged with the knowledge that everyday events, activities and tasks are opportunities to shape our 'adults in training.' A daunting task? Most certainly! I find myself praying for wisdom quite often. What a precious promise we have in James 1:5 "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach." Let us also be encouraged with the knowledge that the seeds we sow today, seeds that might seem insignificant and tiny, will grow in time.