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March 31, 2008

Mission Possible

Been pondering some things about my life lately (I know, me analyzing things? Crazy, huh?)

I am fairly certain I wasn't much of a thinker in my early twenties. (I'm not sure, because, well, I wasn't paying attention.) Don't get me wrong, I wasn't dumb or anything. I was just busy trying out those new grownup shoes. I had fun. Lots of it. I tromped all over in my grownup shoes. It was fun to have our own apartment. It was fun going to Walmart at 2 a.m. It was fun exploring the countryside on afternoon Saturday drives. Anywhere I went in those shoes was new, and exciting.

I don't regret a minute of it. It was a great way to start off adulthood. There's a time for all things.

But as I got older, and started having kids and all the responsibilities that come along with them, I had to learn about prioritizing. And I haven't stopped since.

I think that's what being an adult comes down to. Making sometimes hard choices about what's important, and what's not, and what's in between. That list is constantly shifting for me. Some things go up on the list, then drop back down. Some things disappear completely. Sometimes, totally new and unexpected things suddenly become very important. Juggling that everchanging list is a skill we must perfect, and let me tell you if don't know already and you're still enjoying the newness of your grownup shoes- It ain't easy. But if you don't know what matters in life, what deserves (and needs) your time and attention, then you're missing the whole point. You are adrift.

So, to my ponderings. What's important to me at this time in my life is a no brainer. It's my kids. I absolutely must keep them at the top of my priority list. And while it might be a natural instinct to protect and nurture your offspring, it is also a natural instinct to sin. So I don't always get it right. Oh, don't worry- this is a not a beat-myself-up post. It's just a matter of fact. I try, and God is gracious with our attempts, no matter how far short they fall sometimes.

Anyway, because that is my top priority, my calling in life, and it is a HUGE one, it's very easy to make this mistake: I think, because I am fulfilling this most important task set before me, that that is it. My contribution to the world at large. My plate is full, so I am content to concentrate solely on what's right there in front of me.

And, I think I'm not seeing the whole picture. Because, God doesn't stop at commanding us to raise a holy family. He says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Who do you think he was talking to? Just young, single, unattached people? No! Was he talking only to pastors? Seminary students? Bilingual foks? No. He was talking to you. And me. Parents. Teachers. Golf club makers. Sushi chefs. Grandparents. Retired people. Folks with no hands, no feet. People with every reason to stay right where they are. And good reasons at that. But there are no exclusions in this verse. No, "everybody except stay-at-home-moms" or "only if you can afford to take your vacationtime for that mission trip", or "unless you drop a dollar in the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas".

So, obviously, we are supposed to be doing something. It's undeniable. We sense it, innately, as Christians. But as parents, there is a temptation to say, well, my children are my mission. I am pursuing God's work right here. Look at 'em- see, they can already recite the Lord's Prayer! I think God must chuckle a little, and say, "well, duh."

This is about more.

This is about examining yourself, your circumstances, your talents, your abilities, and finding where God wants to direct those things, outside of your home. Away. Over there. That's the "go" part. See, doesn't it seem obvious? I mean, intellectually, I understand the meaning of that scripture. But somehow for me, for a long time, it's translated as "sit here and read Scripture to your child". But He covered that elsewhere in the Bible, didn't He? We already know we're supposed to be doing that. This is in addition. It's like- eat, but drink, too. Both are vital, independant of each other. Both ensure health and strength. The absence of either will eventually cripple us.

There are people in my life who do this. People who have missions. God opened my eyes to this recently, like a lightbulb going off. I want to tell you about them, and maybe it will encourage you. I have a friend who is "the visitor". Her ministry, her talent, is in friendship. She keeps up with people- it is a purposeful, time-consuming effort, to connect almost weekly with everyone she has befriended. She listens, and shares, and has lightened my life with just BEING there. I can't tell you how her friendship has ministered to me.

Another friend is "the mailer". Not a week goes by that she hasn't popped an old magazine in the post for me, or a quick note with picture of us, or a birthday card, or just any little thing she can think of. I suspect she has a rotation list for her mailings, certain days she mails to certain people. However she does it, it's not some random moment of kindness. This is a mission. She makes it a priority, she's organized, intentful. This small act says, "I'm thinking about you. I love you." What a beautiful reflection of the God she loves and serves.

I could go on and on- listing people I know who have found a calling, answered a need. I could tell you of the people who determine to be good neighbors, those who visit EVERY SINGLE SICK PERSON they know in the hospital. I could tell you of those who teach the Sunday school class nobody else wants. Those who drive the bookmobiles, who send flowers at funerals without fail. Who sing at nursing homes, or organize food for new moms recouping at home. They do what they're good at, and they do it in His name. They don't wait to be asked or told. They're intentful, eager, not only making themselves available to be used by God, but searching out opportunities, too. They find a way to create a signpost with their actions that points back to God. Oh, that that would be said of me. How can that not be one of the most important things in life? How can that not be at the top of my list?

I've let these dear, wonderful missionaries in my life do those things, not thinking for a long time that, hey, I'm supposed to be doing something, too! I have talents, skills, and yes, even spare time, that God wants to be using.

I can't go to Africa. I can't leave my family and walk the mission field. That's not the path for me. But it doesn't mean I don't have a path. I do. But it takes putting a foot out, taking a step. Movement, action. I can use what God has given me to meet needs right here. He's equipped me with exactly what I need, and put me exactly where I am, so that I, too, can "go." There is a mission for me, should I choose to accept it, and it's not impossible. (sorry. couldn't resist.) I can further His kingdom, right here in my own corner of it. As you can, right where you are, no matter where that is.

I'm going to be praying that He opens my eyes to a place that I can minister in His name. I hope you will be, too. I think we'll be surprised at how quickly He'll answer that prayer.

I am excited to see what God will do.

Posted by WonderGirl at 4:27 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Oh Ye Domestic Generals

Is the Swiffer a soldier I should welcome into my Cleaning Army? I can't decide. It seems a bit... indulgent of me. Is it really all that?

I do have a coupon. (sigh)

Posted by WonderGirl at 3:09 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

And We're Baaaack!

Okay, am I the only one still making SNL references? I should probably quit that.

But I am back!

Apparently, I got a little carried away with my spring break vacation. We just got back in last night, after making the rounds to see family. It was great. I have lots of pictures that will take me forever to upload and edit and all that, but I'll get to it eventually. (That's my new mottto-- "I'll get to it eventually." Surprisingly liberating! ha) It was a long visit, and I was so happy to crawl into my own bed last night. S'good to be home. Now, the unpacking and reorganizing begins. (YIKES)

So, still a little to do before I can write a long entry here. I've been feeling a smidge guilty about neglecting my blog over the last two weeks, but it couldn't be helped! Are we cool? You're not mad at me are you? I promise, we'll hang out more this week. I've got lots of good blog-related stuff brewing in my head, mkay? You still matter. We've got a bond that will never- blah, blah, blah. BFF and all that.

I make the joke. You really DO matter. We're gonna get this relationship back on track, don't you worry. And I know just how to do it.

I'll make the fish face, and you can do the puffed out cheeks. It'll be awesome.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:47 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

March 25, 2008

I Don't Ever Wanna Forget

that five year old HeroBoy calls the olden days, like the time of the dinosaurs and before there was t.v. - "The old back thens".

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More Fun For Me

(Started this here, and here, and adding to it. It's not a complete story yet, more like a string of scenes to stitch together as I go along. There is something incredibly fun about writing this way. It's completely liberating, writing as you think, almost like letting the rough draft run wild. Anyway... just thought I'd play around with it a little.)

Part III

She was deathly still, laying on the floor in front of me, her neck twisted at an unnatural angle. Oh, I know how it looked. I had the candlestick in my hand, raised above me. A candlestick of all things- what am I, Professor Plum in the library? I would have laughed if the cop in the doorway wasn't pointing a gun at my head.

"Drop your weapon," he shouted.

I tried to appear nonthreatening, for what it was worth. "Sure," I said calmly. "But you might want to let me finish this. She's about to get extremely cranky."

He looked down at Eternally Sleeping Beauty, and back at me, crazy homicidal guy. I guess it wasn't much of a contest. I didn't think it prudent to bring up the fact that you can't break someone's neck with a candlestick. He didn't seem open to small talk.

"I said, drop your-,"

I didn't need to look down to know why he froze in his tracks. I sighed. No doubt, he noticed the faint twitchings of the figure on the floor. Well, here we go again, I thought to myself. I started the mental countdown to all hell breaking loose. Ten, nine...

I looked at the officer in pity. I'm sure when he woke up this morning, he didn't expect to take a trip to bizarro world before lunchtime.

"Oh, don't worry," I tell the cop. "Your assessment of the situation was correct at the time. She was dead. Not," I added, "that I killed her." Technically, anyway, I amended silently. Eight, seven...

He didn't seem to hear me, which was understandable. It was hard to concentrate as the previously dead groped about, her neck wobbling horrifically on her shoulders. Six, five...

The body on the floor seized upward, and I backed up a foot, holding the candlestick firmly in hand. Professor Plum, indeed. It was downright embarassing. I eyed the officer's nine mil enviously. Four, three...

"You're familiar with zombies, right, Officer?" As if on cue, she slowly shuffled to her feet, blinking solid black eyes in the bright light. "You know, brainhungry, slow-walking, kinda stupid?"

She turned at the sound of my voice. I gulped. Curse it all, if she didn't smile right at me.

Two, one...

"Well, this is much, much worse."

Posted by WonderGirl at 12:50 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Too Late For This

And I know it, but I just can't go to sleep knowing I've let ANOTHER day pass without blogging.

What a strange week it's been. It started with the flurry of excitement over the birth of my nephew. A bit of spring cleaning in the beginning of the week, then company came for a few days in the middle, and ending it all with a funeral, and an Easter egg hunt the same day. Life has been a crazy patchwork quilt, and I don't know quite what to make of it.

I am now at my parent's house for a few days, then back to Monroe Wednesday, and we'll finish out the weekend there.

It's a little bit exhausting, but most of it in a good way.

Lots of thoughts in my head lately. I find myself laying in bed at night, composing dialogue in my head, which is usually an indication that I've put off my creative writing too much. Honestly, it just gets pushed off to the bottom of the list right now. I can get away with it for a few months, and then it won't be put away like that. I can feel that pressure rising, like steam in the kettle. I know it won't be long before one of those midnight musings forces me out of bed, and I'll have to put my thoughts to pen so I can sleep. When inspiration gets desperate, it will do what it must to be heard.

In some ways, I welcome it. I miss it. I need it to override my perfect schedule, create a little chaos to my order. There are days I'd like to go on a writing binge- I'd like to fall of the wagon, eating, drinking, living the words that have waited patiently as I folded clothes, and went over math problems, and brushed curls with a happy giraffe comb. I'd like to write till my eyes burned and my back hurt, and my fingers cramped and I'd gotten it all out of my system because I never seem to be able to do that anymore.

I've come to understand something, though. It's not about choosing one over the other- it's not about motherhood battling the writer I can't not be-- it's more about finding that place where they coexist. Finding the balance, and being happy with it. Knowing the difference between self sacrifice, and abdicating yourself. I want to be both, mother, and writer- and I'm not talking about a published, famous novelist or anything. By writer, I mean, using that muscle that yearns to be flexed. I know when I've used it, and when I haven't, and publication has nothing to do with it.

God made me both. It's me who messes it up, who can't figure out how to make it work. It's me who didn't understand it for a long time, who thought there was a choice to be made between the two, who mourned what I thought had to be the loss of something important inside me. But I am both, and somehow, I've got to make them work together. Because being one doesn't make the other go away, ever. And I wouldn't want it to.

Perhaps, though, the midnight hour is best used in sleep tonight. I am not driven yet by the sharp crack of inspiration, who keeps ruthless hours. But I may not be so lucky tomorrow.

Wishing you all well, and good night. May your dreams, be they dialogues or paintings or gardens or flying horses, be sweet.

Posted by WonderGirl at 1:14 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

March 19, 2008

Homeward Bound

Today, we rejoice that King Pen's grandfather has been reunited with his sweetheart in heaven, together worshipping in the presence of our Holy God. It is a sad day for those saying farewell, but a glorious day for Clyde Cartlidge, who begins an eternity of joy and peace with his Savior.

Please pray for King Pen's family as they say goodbye.

Posted by WonderGirl at 12:07 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

March 18, 2008

One Teensy Post

Okay, I'm still Spring cleaning guys. But, I just wanted to report very briefly, of my shopping yesterday. Not so much about the savings (I saved $85 though--yeah baby!) but what was on my list.

I had 8 items on my "needs" list. This was eight things that I absolutely had to buy to make it through the week. WOW. I had to buy only eight things at full price, because I had everything else I could possibly need at home. This was an electrifying realization. Oh, the joy of domestic engineering! I was so happy, knowing I've gotten things for the very best prices, saved the absolute most amount of money I could. That's money in our pockets, y'all. That's Christmas presents. Gas money. Flip-flops. Date nights!!

Now, I bought a bunch more stuff, but it was all for stockpiling purposes. I was able to spend the entire rest of my budget on items that were priced at rockbottom prices, so I got a TON. My needs list has shrunk, and my stockpiled items GREW!

One last tip-- in the Walgreens circular that came in the Sunday paper (also found at the front of the store as you walk in), there is a coupon for Coca-Cola. It's 5/$11- the 12packs. That's an AWESOME price. However, our Walgreens doesn't carry the type of Coca-cola products I like, so I took that coupon to Kroger and used it. It IS a manufacturer's coupon, which is kind of rare in a Walgreens paper, but there ya have it. You can redeem that anywhere, so GO GET IT!! You can't beat that price.

That's it. I'm back to Spring cleaning now.

Keep me updated on your Grocery Gaming!!

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:04 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

March 17, 2008

Closed For Cleaning

Taking a few days off, my peeps. I need to do some Spring cleaning and whatnot this week. Closets, here I come!

I'll be back, though, so don't wander off too far. I'd hate to have to hunt you down and drag you back here. (Like last time.)

Be good!*

*I always feel like I need to say this when I leave you all unattended, oh mischievous readers. No telling what shenanigans you're up to in my absence.

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:11 PM | TrackBack

March 15, 2008

Beginning a Life

I'm Aunt WonderGirl again! At 12:01 a.m. this morning, the ides of March, John Austin came into the world weighing 7 lbs. and 7 oz., 20 inches long, and with a headful of dark hair. Congratulations, Trey and Katie!

This is their first baby, and I was thrilled to make it in time to hang out in the waiting room with my sister, the aunts, and poor old Dad (who was vastly outnumbered by womenfolk). We played Uno, ate junkfood, and as delirium set in, we harassed Czarina's baby doll. She was not amused. (the doll or Czarina.)

Proud papa, with (proud) Grandma in the background:

And the night wouldn't be complete without "It's A Boy" bubblegum cigars!!

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:21 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

March 14, 2008

Hearing Myself Think

Oh, inspiration.

It was so easy to come by in the old days, the quiet days. When all it took was the right song, a perfect, breezy day on a blanket, the sound of rain at my window...

Now, inspiration must be LOUD to be heard in my life. I must tune out the chaos to find it. The right song competes with the battle cries coming from the playroom. That perfect, breezy day on the blanket has been replaced with days at the playground. And the sound of rain in my window is often drowned out with "Mom, I'm bored!"

It's not that I don't find my family inspiring, because I do. I wouldn't want those old days back even if I could have them. I am blessed with every loud, comfortably chaotic day and I would never go back.

But I'm going to tell you, it's hard to find a quiet moment now to sit down and write.

And I do miss that.

Posted by WonderGirl at 1:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

March 12, 2008

Whensday

Hullo my little dumplings!

(Oh, come on. You know you like to be called that sometimes.)

So what's on the agenda today? Any special plans this fine Wednesday? I can't believe it's the middle of the week already. The days just FLY by lately! We're still majorly off-kilter with the time change on Sunday, just can't seem to get on schedule! It's driving me crazy.

I finished The Sunne in Splendor, all 900+ pages, and it was fantastic. I was SO relieved to be done with it, though. Medieval phrases were starting to work their way into my daily conversation. I almost wished King Pen "Godspeed" when he left on an errand the other day. And I'll admit I told Chipmunk, "You be stinky, lad. Let Ma Mere change you!" (I figured I could try some 15th century colliquol phrases with him, since he speaks little English as it is.) I was eating, breathing, speaking, and wearing, Richard III. It was good though- I highly recommend Sharon Kay Penman. She's an excellent historian/writer. I simply cannot fathom what it took to write this book. It blows my mind.

Okay, well, I realize this isn't much of a post, but I really need to go get some things done. (Things sorely neglected since I picked up that durn book!) I'll write later.

Dumplings.

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March 11, 2008

Poor Duke

Oh, it's be hard to be two years old. Too big to be babied, but too little to be big.

Posted by WonderGirl at 3:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Proof

Okay, you're all probably sick unto death of hearing me laud the praises of the Grocery Game. I get that. And yet,

I
can't
stop.

My poor husband, he knows more about grocery bargains than he ever wanted to. He knows the sales trends, marketing techniques, and the beautiful marriage of sales items and coupons. I have stretched the boundaries of his attention, I know it, and it doesn't even slow me down. Poor, poor man. Give him a hug next time you see him, because he's earned it.

But Y'ALL!! I saved a gross amount of money last night. I mean, I'm embarassed to even tell you. I think I might have actually STOLEN some stuff. Kidding. But my shopping has gotten outrageous. And I'm gonna prove it, by posting my receipt for Walgreens. It's not long, so don't run away. After this, I swear, I'll try to cut down on the Grocery Game talk. I know it's alienating my male readers (all two of them- Dad, Joey), and it's driving Amy B. into jealous rages. So I'll cool out.

Okay. First I'll list all the items I bought:

2 boxes Cheerios
2 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch
4 cans VanKamps beans
2 bags Chexmix
6 cans Hunts tomato suce
3 pairs of latex cleaning gloves
3 large boxes Puffs tissue
1 package paper plates
4 Tufs papertowels
2 bottles Windex antibacterial cleaner
2 OralB crossaction toothbrushes
1 Colgate advanced toothpaste

Still with me? Can you visualize all that stuff? Now let me tell you how much I spent.

Total before coupons/savings: $43

Total after: $24

AND get this-- after a rebate for the toothpaste, it'll be free, PLUS since I had a coupon for it, I'll actually MAKE .75 off of it. I was paid to take this item home.
So, essentially, my bill was really $20.

Look back up at all I got, all for $20. Wowza.

I'll spare you my Kroger bill, which is a bit more complicated, but awesome, too. I saved $60 there.

I feel compelled to say that my grocery budget has not changed yet- I have willingly chosen to keep spending as much as I was pre-GG, for a few weeks anyway, so that I could buy more items on sale. I have so much stuff in my pantry, freezer, bathroom, that I am just amazed! I am really excited to start spending less each week, but for the moment, having all the excess is what matters. I think next week will be a drastic dip for me in spending though, because I'm just getting close to not needing a lot! For instance, I only bought 2 packages of meat this week because it was insanely cheap. I didn't need it, because I'd already stockpiled it. No bread either. But I did get Pamper's Easy Ups, jumbo packs for $6 a pop. I bought 3 of those, because they are regularly $13. What normally would have cost me nearly $40 (if I'd waited and bought it full price when I needed it) only cost me around $18.

Okay, I'm done. I could just keep going, but we've all got better things to do this morning, right?

So I'll let you go about your day, while I sit here and calculate more ways to save.

Somebody, help!

Posted by WonderGirl at 11:24 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

March 10, 2008

No Monday Mojo

Okay guys. I've tried, I really have, but I got NOTHING today. Zip. Zilch. I'm dry as a bone.

I blame it on an obsessive reading of The Sunne in Splendor. I tell ya, this book may kill me. It's good, but it's a tough read. One of those that takes a serious commitment to finish. I'm on page 643. Tiniest print, thinnest paper of all time. 300 some odd pages to go, and I know more about the War of Roses than I really care to.

Anyway, it's distracting me from my WHOLE LIFE. I haven't even brushed my teeth yet.

That's terrible.

And, there is an embarassingly HUGE pile of laundry that I am trying not to make eye contact with. I have GOT to get in there and do it, y'all. I really do. HeroBoy walked around for half an hour today with NO UNDERWEAR on because he's out of clean clothes.

Shameful.

Okay, nuff talking. I need to get busy before social services shows up. I'm going to climb Mt. Laundry. And then I'm going to brush my teeth.

I can do those one-handed, right?

Posted by WonderGirl at 1:43 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

March 8, 2008

Time Change

My mother-in-law is the BEST for reminding me about this twice a year. I swear, without that, we'd be early or late for church every single Sunday following a time-change. I just never remember!! It refuses to stick in my brain.

So, in honor of her today, let me pass on the reminder...

Set your clocks forward an hour tonight!

Posted by WonderGirl at 6:07 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

March 7, 2008

What a Way To Make a Livin'

So here's my mannequin, sporting the Moxie sling, by BohoBaby. (oh, don't I sound all businessy?)

She's headless, armless, and babyless actually, but don't be too hard on her. She's working hard for the money. (So ya better treat her right.)

-Okay, no more drinking in the morning.-

Anyway, whatcha think? Is this photo website worthy? Would you feel confident purchasing this product based on the quality of the photo? Each sling will be photographed this way, as well as an upclose shot for the detail like this-

I'm nervous, y'all. Okay, that's putting it mildy. I'm a little bit freaking out about this whole thing. I won't go into the whys, but the closer I get to being officially open for business, the more I find myself thinking about the bliss of xanax. Or valium. Or tylenol pm.

Kidding.

I guess every venture poses the threat of failure, but you just have to hold your breath and jump in sometimes.

Right?

Um, somebody?

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March 6, 2008

Oh My Darlins

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March 4, 2008

Smells In My House

Cupcakes.
Chicken and dumplings.
Rasberry candle.
and underneath all that, a light citrus floor cleaner scent.

Ahhh... the smells of domesticity!

Posted by WonderGirl at 5:03 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

March 2, 2008

Love Means Saying I'm Sorry

HeroBoy broke a little bit of my heart yesterday.

He has a habit of spilling cups at the table. After the umpteenth ruined plate of food, my patience begins to wear thin. I try not to let that stuff get to me, but I have to admit, it happens occasionally.

So, he spills, and I didn't hide my irritation. "Well, go get a towel!"

He did, and began to wipe it up, but was making more of a mess.

"HeroBoy!" I sigh. "Nevermind, I'll do it. Just go outside and play."

There was no doubt, mama wasn't happy. I am not proud to say that. I should have been more patient. More gracious. More merciful. But I wasn't. I indulged my irritation, and I snapped at him.

About fifteen minutes later, I hear a knock at the door and I can just make out the top of HeroBoy's head. I opened the door, and there he is, holding out a big, beautiful azalea he picked from the yard, bottom lip trembling.

"I'm sorry, Mama. I'm sorry I made a mess," he said, with tears brimming up in his deep brown eyes.

Well, my heart just shattered. I was downright ashamed. Ashamed that I let my poor attitude over a minor inconvenience so profoundly grieve him. I forgot for that moment just how much I matter in his world. Forgot that I basically AM his world right now, and if things aren't peaceful between us, there is no solace for him anywhere else. That a moment that is so minor to me, can be everything to him. That me not being happy means he's not happy, either.

So I hugged him, a big, squeezy hug, made a big fuss over the flowers, and told him I was so sorry for getting mad. I told him how much I loved him, and that he is a good boy and I dried his tears while blinking back mine. Then we went to put the flowers in water, and left that hurt behind.

I can do that now. I can make it better, I can restore his heart to mine because he is young and he loves me and I'm his world just because I'm his mama. But it won't always be that way.

That's why it's so important now, for me to learn to parent with respect for my child. To really understand my position of authority in his life, that it must be gentled with the realization that this is a child of God. He is, in fact, my brother in Christ. It doesn't diminish my responsibility or my position in his life, but I've got to remember that my power doesn't come from me being bigger, or smarter. It doesn't come from me being more spiritually mature, from being able to keep my cup from spilling at the table, or even from being the one who grew and birthed him! It's a Divine appointment. I've been entrusted with one of His precious ones. That's huge. And it's hard.

It is these moments that remind me how vital the fruits of the Spirit are for mothers. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Self-control. Oh, I need those things desperately! Every day, every moment.

I want to display Christ to my child, the fruits of the Spirit, and less of my sinful nature. Oh, I know, I'll fail. I can't be perfect. I am going to sin against my children, because I am a sinful being. But when that happens, I need to repent, confess, and do better! Yes, even to a child! I think as parents we fall into a trap of thinking that we don't owe our kids an explanation for our behavior, or that an apology will undermine our authority. Or, maybe we think we are always in the right because we're older and wiser. OR that it doesn't matter anyway, such a little infraction against them. That being restored to each other in these small moments doesn't really matter. But it DOES matter.

For my child to see repentance and forgiveness worked out in their mother's life- not only to see it, but to be a participant in it-- what better teaching tool than that? Teach them to be repentant, by being repentant. Teach them to be honest, by being honest. Teach them the fruits of the spirit, by partaking of them together.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my thoughts from my weekend on this Sunday night.

Hope you all have a good week!

Posted by WonderGirl at 5:57 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack