Words

Ok, so am I the only parent in the world that is bothered by other parents who think it's ok to say things like "My child is such a little terror" or "Oh, my youngest is a spoiled brat" or "Susie is soooo bad". Don't these parent's realize how POWERFUL their words are? (Proverbs 12:18Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. ; James 3:8...the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.; Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.) I'm assuming that if these people feel comfortable enough to say those things about their children to a complete stranger, they're more than willing to say them in front of their children or TO their children. Yes, I don't doubt their children give them trouble...but more often than not, it's not the children's fault. If the parents are so willing to "label" and settle with the fact that their children "are who they are" then I can assume, again, that they aren't doing the hard work of shaping and molding their children into the men and women of God that they are intended to be. We ALL are born with rebellion in our hearts...and it's up to our parents, teachers, mentors, Pastors and God to train it out of us. If only these parents would see the power of the tongue...and use it to benefit their children. To build them up and focus on their strengths IS much harder to do...but it is so necessary and vital to their development. I'm not saying to be naive or to not tell the truth...it's just that some things are better left unsaid....or at least better said a different way. Instead of saying how "picky" their child is, they could say that they are "selective or know what they like". Instead of telling the world about how "noisy" they are, they could boast about how "enthusiastic and full of life they are". They would do their children a great favor by saying how "dramatic, passionate and full of energy" they are, instead of complaining about their short-fuse or how exhausting they are. It's all in our frame of mind...and unless we all want to see grown-up "terrors", "spoiled-brats" who are "bad"...we need to all take a moment to choose our words, especially those spoken about our precious children, a little more wisely. (And yes, I'm speaking to myself too!)

"You Sure Have Your Hands Full"

Being a mommy of 3 boys is a daily adventure...a fun, exciting, stressful, but oh-so-worth-it adventure. There is no job more fulfilling than helping form and shape a little soul...to attempt daily to take part in the eternal job that God has entrusted me with. All the spilled cheerios, sticky hand-prints on the windows and walls, runny noses needing to be wiped, and endless diapers that need to be changed don't phase me anymore...I see them as just another need that I have the privledge of meeting. Yes, the whining and tantrums can (to put it lightly) "ruffle my feathers", but on a good day, I can step back and tell myself that "This too shall pass". I, once again, ask the Lord for patience and a renewed view of the "big picture", and I can breath a little easier and talk a little sweeter.

I say all this, not to diminish the fact that having 3 children ages 3 and under is a challenge...but to say that it is a blessing and I wouldn't have it any other way. I almost get upset when, almost daily, strangers who see me with my little family look at me with wide eyes and say, "You sure have your hands full!" It's almost as if they're saying, "What were you thinking...and WHY would you choose to do this to yourself?" My typical response is, "I sure do...but it sure is fun and so fulfilling." Those strangers smile and quickly leave, not realizing that their small comment, made by hundreds before, will make me feel sad for them because although they see 3 children as a "handful" or a "chore", I know the true happiness that being a mommy of 3 beautiful boys brings. What they might see as a curse is truly a blessing. What they see as a handful is really a "quiverful". What they see as a chore is really an honor. I know at those moments, I can once again count my blessings and thank Christ for all He has done and is going to do.

I will admit to anyone that there is no way I could do it without my Lord as my guide. He takes my hand daily...my ever present help in time of need. I thank Him as often as I can for the amazing life-partner, love of my life, best friend and soul-mate He has blessed me with. I am so proud to admit that I have the best husband ever...and I am not too proud to say that I could not do any of this life without him. We share in this amazing life journey together and will be thankful and blessed for all children he brings into our life. Though we will always have our "hands full", I would take that, any day, over having our "hands empty". Praise you, Jesus!