Tiredness, fatigue, pain, and endless work.

These words sum up my season of life right now as I wait anxiously for the arrival of our baby in the next two weeks.  My lack of mobility due to the weight of the baby has taken its toll.  When I am weak, my tendency is to let things slide more.  I’ll attend to things that bear more importance at each given moment.  While this is a good tactic for someone who isn’t as mobile as she used to be, I am seeing the fruit of my efforts (or lack thereof).

One of my children has seen how incapacitated I am, and at times been taking advantage of my weakness by being “sneaky” and doing stuff he’s not supposed to do, thinking he could get away with it.  When his deceit came to light, I began to see the importance of being consistent with discipline, even when I am tired.  I’ll admit that I was disheartened, disappointed, and discouraged.  How could this happen?  All these “crimes” happened under my very nose?

I had a good talk with the guilty and conveyed to him two important points.  First, I reminded him that even though I am not all-knowing and don’t know everything that goes on each day, the Lord is omniscient and knows and sees all things.   Not only does God see everything he does, God also knows what goes on in his heart.  I may be fooled, but God can never be fooled.  When he sins, he ultimately sins against the One who made him and sustains all things.

Second, despite my fatigue and lack of mobility, I remain deeply concerned with shaping my child’s character.  I expressed to him that even though I’d rather rest my tired body, I will do my best to correct his follies because his godliness is more important than my comfort and rest.  This is the perspective that I need to keep reminding myself when I fall into the temptation of not wanting to get up and deal with the issue at hand.  Consistency is the key and prayer is an everyday must.  Once again, Galatians 6:9 comes to mind: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due time you will reap if you do not give up.”

Parenting is an exercise in endurance and I pray that we will persevere in the proper training our children so that one day they will rise up and call us blessed.

While at the store running an errand with one of my sons, I got a bit frustrated because I had to tell him to stop doing this or that constantly.

“Stop running in the store!” as he tripped and fell.

“Stop destroying your shoes by poking holes with the chopstick!”  (Yes, he brought a chopstick with him)

“Stop swinging that container and dropping it to the floor!”

“Stop running around me in circles because you’re hurting me!”

“Stop hopping up and down!”

“Stop stomping!”

“Stop walking backwards or else you’re going to run into someone or something!”

“Just walk normally.”

I’m not making this up.  All this happened within 10 minutes.   Such is life with an active boy.  On the way home I had a little chat with him about being self-controlled.  It then dawned on me that I need to teach him how to think things through.  My son is so active that he just does things without thinking.  I told him that before he does something, he should consider these questions to ask himself:

• Is this wise?
• Will this hurt someone?
• Is this something mommy or daddy would want me to do?
• Is this a good idea?
• Will this honor God?
• Will I get hurt as a result of this specific action?
• Will my action damage something as a result?

I think some children naturally possess common sense, but for an active boy, common sense is not so common and it needs to be taught.   The above questions need to be hammered in so they become automatic for him.  As much we try to help our children think things through, thus helping them to not suffer the result of their actions, there will be times when undesired consequences still result.  We still need to be gracious and kind in responding to their follies.

For the last two years, our 2-year-old church has participated in Operation Christmas Child, an annual evangelistic project of Samaritan’s Purse (headed by Franklin Graham).  This ministry opportunity involves churches across the United States packing shoeboxes with gifts to be distributed to needy children around the world, accompanied with the good news of the gospel.  While some churches simply invite their members to bring packed & wrapped shoeboxes, our church makes it an opportunity for fellowship as folks bring the gifts, and we pack and wrap them together after our weekly fellowship meal.  Last year’s event was great fun, and this year’s was just as much so.  And it’s great to know we’re participating in a ministry committed to sharing the love and truth of the gospel to many little ones (and their families!) around the world.

Here are some pictures from today’s events.  It’s wonderful to see our children involved and excited about helping and serving in the cause of the gospel.  An added bonus is how they get to serve alongside others in the church, not just their parents, but other adults who love interacting with (and implicitly mentoring) them.