Each morning I wake up and start my day off with a hot cup of coffee. As I sit cuddled on the couch my mind often drifts to my children. Raising boys is not an easy task that is for sure. They are noisy, oh God are they loud. They are dirty, gross, impulsive, wild, stubborn, and the list goes on. They are also amazing, strong, funny, brave, powerful, and really just incredible!!!!!
I pray for my children everyday. I pray for them now and for whatever their futures hold. Sometimes I am paralyzed with fear for the unknown. What does the future hold for them? Will they fall in love? Real, honest, raw, beautiful love? Will they experience tremendous heartache? The type that makes you feel like you lost a part of your soul? Will they have children of their own? Will they create a life that they are proud of? Will they love God in a way that shows other people love and kindness?
The thing is I can’t get answers to those questions, that is just part of life. I have to trust that each day I will do my best to teach them, grow them, and show them how to handle anything that life has in store for them.
Love and faithfulness are two things we don’t see enough of today. True, honest love with no strings attached is hard to come by. We teach by example. If you want your children to love deeply, you need to love deeply. Show them that you love your spouse. Take time to say I love you and take time to stop what you are doing in the midst of your busy day to show them some extra love and kindness. We don’t get a “do over” in the parent department, so take the time to love them and to show them how to love.
Faithfulness in my mind is a lost virtue to many. Wikipedia actually says it best ~ Faithfulness is the concept of unfailingly remaining loyal to someone or something, and putting that loyalty into consistent practice regardless of extenuating circumstances.
It’s not always easy to stay loyal to something or someone when the going gets tough. Staying loyal and faithful to the principles we cherish can be difficult when push comes to shove. I believe it starts with not being able to be content with what we have. We are all striving to move ahead in this world and sometimes in the race to become successful, we often forget about how we became who we are. While we want our children to dream and reach for what their hearts truly desire, we also want them to know the feeling of contentment. There definitely is a balance between encouraging them that there is so much out there to reach for but at the same time it’s ok to be happy and joyful right where you are.
Why don’t we start teaching our children that the small schools they go to while they don’t have all the fancy bells and whistles of other schools, they are still full of amazing opportunities and full of life changing memories. Instead we look around and pick apart everything that is wrong.
How about teaching them that the small town they can’t wait to move on from is full of people who love them and can be anything they want it to be.
Maybe teach them they don’t need more, that they need to love what they have and learn to be content.
Teach them to love their family and friends and to always be there for them no matter what. Teach them to be that person that others can lean on.
Faithfulness is hard to come by…..start living it in your life and you will teach your children to do the same.
The world can change. You can change it. You can start inside your home with yourself, your spouse, and your children. Stop looking all around you and start focusing on the ones who are looking up to you. Your children need to be taught and teaching them is the greatest gift of all. It’s a gift to yourself, to them and to this world. Start today…Start now…Show them LOVE…..Show them FAITHFULNESS……
“Let Love and Faithfulness never leave my children, bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.” Proverbs 3:3
