The Soul Of My Feet

In my efforts to discipline my 5 year old recently I experienced for the first time being hurt verbally by him. Whilst I held firm and continued on, when he wasn’t looking I let out an almighty cry to my Father in heaven. Motherhood can be so painful sometimes and I’m positive that without Jesus walking me through every step of it I would be a bundle of nerves. It certainly made me reflect on how I’d hurt my own parents as a child and ultimately how I treat my heavenly Father when I don’t get my own way. Though it was painful for me and my son training him in how to live and behave, which each hurdle we both grow more and learn how we can love each other and ultimately how we can please God in what we do. If you’re struggling today, take heart, He is with you every step of the way you just need to call on him to help…

I never thought I would be old enough to have a child at school, but it’s coming next year and to be honest I’m not sure that I am ready… my five year old can’t wait and I’m pretty sure there are not going to be any separation issues.

I think my biggest fear is that I will lose a little bit of control over his behaviour and I guess I’m a little worried that he might pick up some not so nice habits from the bigger kids. I can only pray that God will be there to keep an eye on him for me as I know I’ll have to let go a little bit in order for him to grow. We are heading into a new season which I’m hoping will be filled with new friendships, new experiences and more opportunities to speak Gods grace into others lives.

I’m always amazed at how toys just seem to never last long in our house before they’re missing a piece, broken or just simply have gone missing. In fact it’s incredibly frustrating that I sometimes feel like boycotting the toy buying process.

I’m guessing the kids may not like the idea but seriously… didn’t things seem to last longer when we were kids? I guess I’m a little guilty of sucking up stray lego or accidently losing the odd noisy toy but with each birthday and Christmas I let out a little sigh when I think where that toy might end up in a few months. I’m just hoping my kids will learn how to look after their things better as they grow and I’m hoping that I can do a good job as a mum to model how we should be managing the resources God has provided and how we can best serve Him with them…

I recently ventured into a bookshop and couldn’t believe the number of books available in the self-help department. It seems as though there is a secret to the good life and the only way to discover it is through paying out big money for books, dvd’s and conferences.

Is this the way God intended for us to be guided, by man’s philosophies, could it be true that to be successful we only need to hang out with someone that is considered successful, that somehow their qualities will rub onto us? It seems we are even choosing which suburbs to live in, which schools to choose for our kids just so they have the best chance of hanging around the kids of those successful people.

You know what though? Jesus actually hung out with those that hadn’t made it in life, he hung out with those that we cross the road just to avoid, he was the most successful, yet it was his qualities that rubbed onto them. There is a secret to success in life but it’s not about expensive books and conferences in tropical destinations, it’s simply about spending time with the most successful man ever known, Jesus.

My jaw dropped the other day when my almost 5 year old after enjoying a play date across the street, came out with “is our house better than theirs” . I honestly couldn’t believe that the thought should even cross a childs mind. But obviously the need to compete begins quite early. Why do we constantly compare ourselves to others? Why must our house be slightly bigger, with better appliances and furniture than our friends? Why does it even seem important that we measure up to our supposed equals? Eventhough I was shocked and dissapointed that my 4 year old would even care it was in that moment that I was able to teach him the things that do matter, and it’s not where or what we live in. Some have big homes, some have small homes, some don’t even have a home. What matters most is that our value rests on our relationship with Him.

Amen

We have been potty training lately and it has been a mix of emotions for the whole family. The first two days were the hardest, our 2 year old just didn’t want to embrace the new feeling of undies and desperately needed the security of a nappy. In the toughest moments of 2 year old stubbornness, I wondered whether he was ready for potty training. ButI decided to forge ahead and endure a few more days plus add in a bag of jelly beans now known as ‘potty beans’ and a few milky ways to assist in a little motivation (not bribery!). And presto after 2 weeks he is now letting us know when he needs to go and now he goes through the night! It got me thinking though, it wasn’t until he felt how uncomfortable it was to have a poo in his undies that he realised going to the toilet was a far better option (for everyone!). I reckon you could compare it to peoples reaction of the Gospel. People that do not understand the Gospel are basically still in nappies. They like the feel of their comfortable, cozy life, where they can pretty much control most of it (or think they do) but it’s not until the nappy is taken away that they feel vulnerable, exposed and aware of their insecurities and weaknesses. Initially they try in desperation to return to that cozy, comfortable, predictable life but that time has gone and a decision has to be made. They can choose to continue to have ‘accidents’ and mess things up or they can choose to believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and follow him and in doing so their life becomes better, more fulfilling, more purposeful because they are trusting in the one that does have it in control. So are you in nappies today or are you wearing undies?

My hubby came to me with this BIG revelation recently. You see I recently took off on my own for a little holiday and he stayed home and looked after the boys and he made a few observations. He worked out that as long as he was looking after their needs then they generally remained happy and content. However, the moment he attempted to do something for himself, then, well, all hell broke loose. I guess little people live in the same world as us and their life is about themselves. My first reaction to his revelation was well “that’s not fair ! Surely we can look after our own needs sometimes!! But then, thinking deeper, I realised that it comes back to servanthood. Once we humbly submit to serving our children, that means discliplining as well and creating healthy boundaries then they know that they are loved and secure and therefore they are happier and become a real blessing in our lives. I guessing that’s why our own Heavenly Father came to serve us so that we could remain in his care and love forever….hmmmm

One of my ears has been blocked for some time now and I keep thinking it will eventually unblock but I’m going to have to think about seeing a doctor soon because it’s making me feel a little dizzy. Anyhow I was playing piano today in Church and I was convinced that hardly anyone was singing and I kept turning myself up to make sure they could hear the music. But then mid-way into the song my ear unblocked and whoa everything was louder, clearer and I could hear again. Life wasn’t muffled anymore, it was so nice and lasted, well, for at least minute and then became blocked again…but it got me thinking. Perhaps our ears unblock sometimes and during those moments we hear God speak, then, a few moments later Gods voice becomes muffled, lost in the surrounding noise of life…I’ll let you know when my ears are all good again!

I am sitting here on the lounge in some gorgeous morning sun, sipping a freshly brewed coffee and watching my kids play lego together. They are not fighting… oops… i spoke to soon.

Okay, well for at least a minute, life with two boys was simply blissful! Isn’t it funny when sometimes we begin to cruise in our life and think it couldn’t possibly end but sure enough the tears roll in again. Why do good times have to end? I once saw a billboard outside a shop that said  “after a time of living it up there’s always a time of living it down”. How true, there is a season for everything – I’m just hoping my quiet time this morning lasts a little longer than a minute….

You know that famous cliché about slowing down to smell the roses? Well, I don’t recommend it! Because I nearly took a short cut to Heaven this week.

We were walking back from a little trip to our corner store for some much needed lollies and I let go of my two year-olds hand for a few seconds to smell some beautiful roses, however, in my moment of contemplation over God’s creation, my little boy decided that the middle of the road was far more interesting. So from slowing down to smell the roses, the adrenalin kicked in and without even thinking I darted onto the road to collect him before a car did… thankfully the driver anticipated the situation and slowed down but it could have been a different story and life may have been taken from my family in a second. It made me think though that it was pure instinct to lay down my life for his and I would not have hesitated. Our love for our children is simply so great… in that same way Jesus laid down his life for us  so that we might be saved…