>We are SOOOO in trouble when it comes to parenting our youngest!! I truly recognize that God put this child in our lives most likely as a sole reminder that we MUST lean on Him and His word daily. And just in case simply looking into those sweet doe eyes still doesn’t trigger that reminder in us, this child carries a big stick of accountability.

Let me set the scene:

Dinner time- Enchiladas…which the kids both typically chow down on. This night however, Connor has decided that the black beans in this essentially casserole type dish are “offensive” (He has never even noticed them before) So we agree to let him pick them out since they are big enough and scarce enough to do so. Turns out he just didn’t want to eat enchiladas last night and since we typically do not bargain with him he wasn’t prepared for a compromise like that. He curled up in a ball on his chair…he shoved piles around to make it look like he was eating and finally he disappeared around the corner into the office. The rest of us had long since finished our dinner, so I went to figure out what it was he was doing in the office and not at the table and found him reading his Bible. I turned and walked away letting him have his contemplative time alone with God but curious beyond belief what it was he thought he was going to find in the Word about black beans and enchiladas. I was also doing a little happy heart dance over the fact that he went to the word when he was feeling conflict in his heart and did not result to a toddler like tantrum of whining and begging.

Dad sat down with him and got the scoop–it turns out this child of ours went to the Book of God to read for himself once and for all where it says that children must honor and obey their parents. (Bless his heart) Boy was he crushed when it was pointed out to him in several places…including Ephesians 6. He sat quietly digesting the fact that we had not been selling him some non truths. Then without missing a beat he perked up and said to Jas “Dad..it also says here– Fathers do not provoke your child to anger.”

Do I need to remind you people that he is EIGHT YEARS OLD????

When Jas told me about this exchange I hit the ceiling with laughter….

Jas handled it well explaining that just because we tell him he has to do something he doesn’t want to and he gets mad about it that it doesn’t mean we are provoking him.

Lord, you are amazing and wonderful. It is with great honor that we raise these 2 very precious children in your ways. Please provide us with the wisdom, the patience and the heart to always instill in them the most impactful messages of your love, peace and glory.
Amen.