August 5, 2021

Many life circumstances have taught me that fitting into the mold or expectations of others is not God’s will for me. If, for example, I had followed all the parenting advice of friends, I could have easily cultivated rebellion or resentment in the hearts of my children. But because God gave them to me, it is for me to love, discipline, and nurture them according to their bent and the wisdom and intuition He gives day by day.

Colt is an avid reader and very bright. He has a wealth of random facts that no “normal” person would know from the books he has read. He started speaking very early and hasn’t stopped. He speaks too quickly for even me to understand sometimes because his mind is going faster than his mouth. He often is absorbed in his own little world oblivious to the people and needs around him. He is strong in what he believes about life and doesn’t care to be different. He is a quick learner and mostly self-taught. We are working on self-discipline and being slow to speak.

Kylie is a fireball with a strong sense of justice. She is quick to point out when punishments are administered unfairly in her eyes. Her mouth gets her in trouble more than any of us would like, but she is maturing and learning to think before speaks. Despite her strong will she is surprisingly more of a follower than a leader – wanting to fit in and be like those around her more than stand up or stand out. She is also quick to help, often asking me if there is anything I need help with. She loves to cook and clean and small children love her. She is very creative and can follow tutorials to crochet the most amazing things. She struggled learning to read and often needs things to be repeated several times before they stick. We are working on gentleness and controlling our tongue.

Caden is most always smiling, happy, and willing to hug or snuggle. He has a sweet and tender disposition but is also 110% boy running full steam ahead and usually towards something dangerous. He has a soft heart, and if he sees someone hurting is quick to run over and put his arm around them. He will cry with you when you are crying and he will laugh with you when you are laughing. He is an encourager and wants to see you do well. His tender heart allows him to be offended easily, and he does not like to receive correction which hinders him more often than not. Caden asks a million questions, but he doesn’t listen for the answer which is frustrating for us both since its usually the same question over and over. We are working on listening and making wise choices.

Each child is different. They are unique individuals that are God’s gifts to me; none of them fit anyone’s mold – and it is just too much pressure to worry about what anyone else thinks anyway!

I must ask, do I see my children through the grid of them being a blessing from God? Do I bless my children and see that as a part of being Jesus to them? As in all great work, raising and training children in requires so much time, effort, work, fortitude, faith, and patience. But it is such an important work, as it will last throughout eternity!

I need the daily reminder to see them through the eyes of Jesus. Do I focus on them as people to police or correct – or people to love and serve, understand, protect, and instruct?

Do them see me as an adversary, waiting for them to fail, to do something wrong, or to make a mistake? Or do they see me as an advocate, one who comes alongside them, to love and correct gently, to keep them on the path of righteousness, to motivate them toward holiness, to encourage them when they are discouraged, to paint a vision for their lives?