I've mentioned that my boys have been fighting non-stop lately. After time-out they are required to apologize and forgive one another, and most of the time, I believe they honestly mean it. They've gotten as good at becoming friends again as they are at being mean to each other.
Practice makes perfect, I guess.
One day recently when the mosquitoes were particularly bad, my oldest boy was flopping around the house, moaning and complaining because I wouldn't let him outside to play. The mosquitoes were that bad. I could have dipped him in a vat of DEET and they would still have eaten him alive.
"Mommmmmmmy, I wish there was no mosquitoes. Ever. {grumble, grumble, grumble} Why are there mosquitoes!"
I don't really know why I chose the words I did, but I was tired of his arguing. I simply said, "Because our world is not perfect."
Days later my littlest boy landed in my lap and asked "Why is our world not perfect?"
Wow.
"Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God when they lived in the perfect garden." Obey and disobey are words that are heard frequently around here. This kid has a very intimate knowledge of what they mean.
He gave me a defiant look, transformed into the I-am-pushing-my-limits version of himself and growled at me, "And I will disobey God too."
I'm sure he expected me to tell him no. "Yes, you will, everyone does."
His eyes got big, and his face softened.
I continued, "But you'll say you're sorry."
He was listening.
"And then what will God do?", I asked.
A big smile came over his face, and he looked right into my eyes as he whispered so softly that I almost couldn't hear it, "forgive".
6 comments:
Awesome. It's so amazing to teach our kids about God's grace, isn't it?
I love little light-bulb moments.
SUCH a perfect moment! Talk about teachable moments!
I'm sure my MIL could give you some words of wisdom when it comes to fighting brothers. She had 8 sons and has always had at least one set of boys at each other's necks all the time. JD Man and his next youngest brother used to be that set. Finally, at 13 or 14, JD Man realized that it was wrong and not pleasing to God, apologized to his brother, asked for his forgiveness and that was the end of that.
I hope, for your sanity, it doesn't take another few years before your boys can live at peace with each other.
So awesome.... really.
Love this story.
I love when God gives us opportunities to teach our children His grace... and to see them GET it.
I'm also glad my boys aren't the only ones to fight.
He GOT it! Wow! That is just awesome!
Just reading through your blog to wind down after an exhausting day. This story is just.....so great. I am continually using words like "obey" and "disobey" around here, too, and often feel that I am failing at pointing my kids to God. But this story gives me hope. It's just so precious. I would say I have tears in my eyes, but that's not true. I am crying, tears running down my cheeks, snot running out of my nose. And now I'm gonna go to bed.
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