Mom's Lesson

I haven't updated this in....well.....what seems like FOREVER!!  I'm still in the process of writing a pretty lengthy post about all that has transpired in our lives in the last 4 months, so I'll save that for later and share a recent story that I don't want to forget.

I am constantly teaching my children "lessons".  From the simplest things like how to pick up a Cheerio when they are babies, to more complicated things like how to handle themselves when things don't quite go the way we wanted them to, as they get older.  As I constantly teach lessons, I am coincidentally learning lessons as well.  Like, don't leave a baby with a tray full of Cheerios unattended for more than 2 seconds or you will be finding them in various locations of the house for months.  Or one of my very favorites, how NOT to speak to your husband when you are not pleased about things not quite turning out the way you wanted them to. ;)  My husband has said that living with our almost 5 year old, Drew, is like watching your life on DVR and it is so true!

As I muddle through most days trying my best to teach my boys how to share toys, how to react in better ways than hitting or biting, how to respond to Mom's pleas of "HURRY UP! WE'RE LATE!", and to obey the first time, I often forget the ONE thing I am called to teach them about...God's Love!  I pray with my boys before each meal, (granted often one or both of them are already done eating and we are praying over my 1/4 of a turkey and cheese sandwich and handful of baby carrots that I managed to scrounge up, but I digress...), pray with them before nap and bedtime, teach them the reason we respond certain ways is because that is how Jesus would and wants us to, etc. etc.  Does it sink in?  I pray it does!  Do they get it? They will someday!  Is it important?  The MOST important!

When one of my lessons on obeying the first time, or choosing a different response than hitting doesn't sink in, I get a little upset!  Ok, I get downright angry sometimes...it is not pretty when this Mom has to repeat the same request 3, 4, 5 times and more!  Time outs are dished out...rewards are taken away...it's just not fun for anyone!  Now, the lessons about God....well, I don't hand out multiple choice tests on the Ten Commandments and I don't ask for an exact retelling of the Christmas Story.  So, I continue teaching them about God's Love the best way I know how and hope someday it shines through in their words and deeds.

One day last week, I was dropping Drew off at Preschool...Brandon in tow of course.  We were running a tad behind (as usual) and I was recovering from my usual blood pressure spike resulting from my children doing everything EXCEPT getting dressed when asked, getting their shoes and coats on, and not going downstairs to get another toy to take in the car.  Ironically, I always have the local Christian radio station playing, and this particular day, I'm getting more and more convicted about the fact that I should not start our day this way!  We pulled up to the stop light just before we turn into the Preschool and at that intersection stands a big, wooden cross.  I heard a small voice pipe up from the, up-until-that-point, silent backseat that says, "Hey Brandon.  See that cross right there.  Jesus died on that cross.  Do you know that Brandon?  Jesus died on the cross."  Brandon, in his cute, almost 2 year old, accommodating way responds with a smile, and a "Yeah" (though he had no idea what he was agreeing to)! ;)  And in that moment, this Mom lost it and looked like a blubbering fool dropping that sweet little boy off at school.  Lesson learned, son.  Lesson learned!