It takes awhile to find peace. Some tdays seem easier than others. But once
you truly let peace fill your soul, it’s not a far reach on the days that aren’t
so great. Just a week ago Eric and I transplanted
some bushes from our woods. I am not a
garderner in my opinion because I don’t know the names of hardly anything, but
I have to say its in my blood because my mom is an AMAZING Gardner.
That’s her
gift flowers and creating beauty.
While
I was out watering them a beautiful big yellow and black butterfly landed right on
my chest. It stayed there for a good five minutes. I couldn’t believe it stayed
on me that long. That has never happened
to me. It was in that moment that I just
continued to be so thankful for all that surrounds me. I must be doing something right with the flowers and bushes out there:)
But this summer with Riley being such a good helper I can
get so much more done outside.
She’s not
afraid to dig in the dirt
and let her toes feel the soft cool grass.
She loves going on our trail and hugging the
trees and saying
Hi to them. We love to stop
on the trail and lift our arms out wide and I tell her,
“ Feel the breeze
Riley. Thank you Jesus for the trees and
this wonderful breeze.”
And in that moment we look at one other and smile. I’d like to think that with all the time we
spend outside without all the noise in the world, is a great way to teach Riley
about God.
It seems much easier when you see a
breathtaking view to have a thought not too far behind come along and say, “WOW,
is there more? Who can create such astonishment?
Riley now knows before we eat dinner we pray. She starts to
fold her hands together. I’d like to
think that these little repetitions will also teach her how to have a relationship
with God. This is the only thing I have
not looked up. Honestly I have searched and read soo many articles and other
people’s experiences online about parenting. Makes me think my mother would be
going crazy if it wasn’t for the internet.
But after she turned
one, the obsession has come almost to a stand still. Riley, is her own person. It’s my job to
train her in the way she should go. Teach her by showing.
We can’t walk into a child’s room and say “ITS SO MESSY IN
HERE” and walk out and expect them to clean it.
Isn’t it in our nature to please others? I’m sure that child wants to
please their parent and will attempt to clean. But when that parent comes in
and has different expectations of clean.. the frustration takes over on both
parts. It’s so important not to micromanage our kids.
What’s the best way to train them? SHOW THEM!!!That’s where a
lot of my strength and courage come in with parenting. Riley has learned everything by watching hasn’t
she? It’s amazing to see what a 15 month old can do.. I have to continue to pray that I can be the
best example for her. I have to continue to touch base with God, so I can be
the best mom for Riley.
So I think that if I show her now the importance of God in
our lives that by nature she will want to experience that same love and choose
to have an amazing relationship with Jesus.
From the Unity Class I go to we watched Chip Ingram on House
or Home. He pointed out how many of us
will send our kids to Christian schools and expect them to teach our children how
to be spiritual. He wasn’t putting down Christian
schools, but made me think about how this is just another area of life that you
are the best example for your child in how to know Jesus.
Watching our children grow we pray that they will know
Jesus, but we also need to pray that we can show them too. We can pray to trust God and follow his word
on how to be a parent. Something that will stay true and bring much more value
than a Google search.
Be open and show your children what it means to love and how
on difficult days there is a reason we can find strength and hope… and that
reason is Jesus.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6
