We have four children: two boys ages 5 and 3, and two girls, one almost 3 and the other 19 months old.

Without a doubt, the boys are infinitely more fidgety and active than the girls (though our older daughter is a very active girl, when asked to sit, she seems to just be better at it).

This is especially so when in church worship services.

So it’s with thankfulness I note that we, as a family, attended a wedding last Saturday. And all our children, including the boys, sat through the entire wedding (1.5 hours including a 40+ minute sermon) without any complaint and minimal motion, and even some attention to the various elements of the ceremony, including gladly singing Before the Throne of God Above and In Christ Alone, two of their favorite songs.

It’s so easy to focus on the negative, as parents.  Either on things we’re not doing perfectly, or ways in which our children falter. But I suspect we do not do justice to ourselves, our children, or most importantly our God when we fail to acknowledge the progress that we’ve made, by God’s mercies and kindness.

So I post this entry to remind myself, my wife, and our readers that though progress in childrearing may seem non-existent or even reversed; that God has answered our efforts with His mercies.  And inasmuch as God is graciously patient toward us in what must from His perspective seem to be glacially slow sanctification… may we have patience and mercies toward our imperfect (!) children as we strive to help them mature and learn the ways of the Lord.