I Hope They GET These Things

Lately I have been running a thousand miles an hour, in a circle. My poor little kids are trying their hardest to keep up with me, when all they really want to do is play in the sprinkler. What am I training them to do? Or to be? I think it's time to evaluate our (my) priorities and make sure that the really important stuff becomes really important again. We get one shot at this whole parenting gig, and I don't want to get to the end of the task and see that I've trained them to be versions of this restless me that can't stop running long enough to read my bible or enjoy a day of just playing with them. It's time to turn on the sprinkler.

I really want them to "get" the most important things. The things that will matter 30 years from now. If I don't show them those things, how will they get them, or even know what they've missed? OH THE PRESSURE!!! Seriously, it must be do-able because God placed these children in my care, and He knows I'm a doofus sometimes. He knows that I spend entirely too much time at the mall and that I love to sleep late and hate doing laundry. None of those things scream "Mom Material!" He still gave me these silly monkeys, so surely He planned to equip me to train them up to be normal kids, who love pb&j's and want to live a life that honors Him.

Part of my equipping has been in the form of placing brilliant, Godly women in my life to show me the ropes and throw me one now and then when I need rescuing. The remainder has come from trial and error, midnight talks at IHOP, and most importantly, God's Word. That equipping has given me a burden for making sure that my kids are watching to clearly see God working in every area of our lives, and that they don't have to look any further than their mom to see an example of a Godly woman with a servant's heart. I better eat my Wheaties!

So- here are a few of the things I hope and pray that they each understand and apply to their lives today and next week and in 2054:
1. You are the light of my life, and the fact that you are here is my greatest earthly blessing.
2. You are not here to be a blessing for me, you are here to be a servant of God- I just got a bonus out of the deal.
3. Respect is not negotiable. It's your default setting, and it will serve you well.
4. Your pursuit of holiness should trump your pursuit of happiness every time. Period.
5. You don't need to be validated by anyone- Jesus values you enough that He bled and died for you and fought Hell and the grave for YOU. That should be enough...that and your momma thinks you're the bees knees.
6. God cares about it ALL. Little stuff, big stuff- God is looking at your heart and motive for every decision. Be obedient
7. The consequences of telling a lie are always ALWAYS harder than the consequences of telling the truth. Truth is not negotiable, either.
8. When you start looking for a mate- when you're 40- if they don't love Jesus, they can't love you.
9. You can't have a relationship with God if you don't spend time with him.
10. I love you and will help you in every way that I can, but you have to walk out this life with God and stand before Him in eternity. He is the way. Live for Him and with Him.
11. Tithe. It's an opportunity to be obedient, and its not negotiable.

Its time to slow things down a bit, so that we can focus on these things. So, sprinklers, and picnics and lots of holding and prayers are on our agenda. The other things are just gonna have to wait. Even if there is a sale at Target. Lord help me!