There are some things you simply cannot teach your children. You teach principles, but you can't teach your children how to react in every possible situation. Surely, some times our children will fall flat on their face and that's just part of the learning process. But other times, you stand back in awe. You see the fruit of your labor. In it's most humbling aspect, you realize that it's nothing you did at all but rather the heart and personality of your child that is innate.
One of these moments happened to me just recently. We had invited our elderly neighbor to dinner. She is a sweet woman who loves children and enjoys any time we visit. For hours before dinner, my son asked over and over again when she was coming for dinner. He was genuinely excited to have her as our special guest. So, when the clock finally settled about 10 minutes before her expected arrival, I gave him permission to walk over to her house and escort her over to our home.
Not only did he tote an umbrella (it was in fact raining that day), but he ran ahead of her to hold the door open once they arrived at our front door. He prayed for our meal before we ate and included, "Thank you for our special neighbor and that she could come to have dinner with us." To say it was precious is an understatement. It was the kind of moment that brings tears to a mother's eyes. I didn't tell him to go pick her up at her house or hold the door for her or to pray for her at our dinner.
It gives me hope in those moments when he's having his third meltdown of the day... when he's throwing a tantrum over a lost toy... when I find him eating crackers he found in the seat of the car... he can still be an awesome human being.
What have your kids done that makes you proud and helps you to remember that all the hard work of parenting really will pay off?
One of these moments happened to me just recently. We had invited our elderly neighbor to dinner. She is a sweet woman who loves children and enjoys any time we visit. For hours before dinner, my son asked over and over again when she was coming for dinner. He was genuinely excited to have her as our special guest. So, when the clock finally settled about 10 minutes before her expected arrival, I gave him permission to walk over to her house and escort her over to our home.
Not only did he tote an umbrella (it was in fact raining that day), but he ran ahead of her to hold the door open once they arrived at our front door. He prayed for our meal before we ate and included, "Thank you for our special neighbor and that she could come to have dinner with us." To say it was precious is an understatement. It was the kind of moment that brings tears to a mother's eyes. I didn't tell him to go pick her up at her house or hold the door for her or to pray for her at our dinner.
It gives me hope in those moments when he's having his third meltdown of the day... when he's throwing a tantrum over a lost toy... when I find him eating crackers he found in the seat of the car... he can still be an awesome human being.
What have your kids done that makes you proud and helps you to remember that all the hard work of parenting really will pay off?
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