Little Helpers

Parenting is quite the adventure.  So many times I feel like I spend all day feeding kids, picking up from their destruction adventures of the day, cleaning everything from bottoms to sticky fingers to kitchen tables and chairs, repeating myself, and administering some form of discipline. 

But then there are days when I catch a glimpse of the Lord working in their hearts.  A success.  Not because I did anything right, but because the Bible is living and active and the Lord works in their lives, too, not just mine.  Today was one of those days.  

It hasn't been a perfect day.  My 4 year old is in the midst of transitioning from being "little" to being "big" and her dramatic nature makes this transition rather ridiculous.  She goes from laughing one second to this pathetic melting kind of cry the next.  Do you know the one?  She literally goes limp and her face looks like a sad clown, with her lip sticking out so far it could serve as a shelf.  And the tears.  Oh boy.  Huge alligator tears just well up in her little eyes and come streaming down her still chubby cheeks.  But back to the highlight of today...

We're radio people.  Call me old school if you will, but it's just easier.  Especially when we have two Christian stations in town that play contemporary Christian music.  They may not all be my very favorite songs, but they speak the truth nonetheless.  We all love music and it makes me delighted to hear my kids singing these melodic truths, even if they don't know the full meaning of what they are singing.  Today, on the radio, they were discussing some local children in need of school supplies.  "I want to help someone, mama," says the 4 year old.  "Me too!  I want to help kids too!"  I tell them that I am so glad they want to help others and promise to check into the details and we continue our drive, but I almost teared up a little.  They are developing servant hearts.  They aren't perfect, but neither am I.  And neither are you.  I think if we seize these opportunities to give and consider others before ourselves while they are so young, that hopefully this mentality sticks when they are older.  It's so hard, even as an adult, to forget about your own desires, isn't it?  

Be encouraged, friends and fellow parents, the Lord IS working in our kids in big ways and small.  Keep praying for soft hearts and teachable spirits.