O Christmas Tree!

This picture pretty much sums up our Saturday.  A day filled with whining, complaining, fighting and lots of disobeying.   Murray took Ella to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner (bc I cannot seem to ever get everything I need on my weekly grocery store run) and while they were gone Miller knocked over the Christmas tree.  We have our Christmas tree on a stand that is held up by paint cans.  This is the redneck way of having a taller Christmas tree without having to buy the tallest tree.  Don't worry, we cover up the paint cans so you cannot see them.  Another benefit is that you can actually get the presents under the tree.  Anyways, for some reason Miller thought it would be a good idea to pull the paint cans out.  He said he wanted to stand on them.  I actually did not respond bad in that situation, I was just so glad he was not hurt.  He was so pitiful trapped behind/under the tree.  I wish I could say the same for the rest of the day.  As the kids got worse throughout the day, so did I.  I heard a clip on the radio a couple of weeks ago that said that one of the reasons we respond so poorly to our children and get so frustrated is because we expect them to act like adults.  That was so true for me Saturday!  By the time I put them to bed I was so frustrated and exhausted.  As soon as I shut their bedroom door and walked into the kitchen I was filled with shame.  I could not believe how I acted all day long towards the kids.  All day we talked about having a good attitude and loving our brother and sister all the while I had a terrible attitude and did not show love towards Ella and Miller.  Ella got out of bed to go to the bathroom and I apologized to her for being so short with her and not showing her love with my words and actions.  I told her how sorry I was.  She just looked at me and smiled and said, "its ok Mommy, I love you."  And that was that.  I tried to apologize again and she just said, "Mommy, I said I forgive you.  Let's not talk about it any more."

It is amazing how quickly I forget what my main goal in parenting is.  My role as a mother is to teach my  children to love the Lord and glorify him with their life.  That is the main thing!  It has nothing to do with me or what I think my kids reflect of me.  All of my parenting should revolve around teaching them the love of the Lord!

Providentially, our Sunday School lesson on Sunday was on parenting!  We looked at Psalm 127, which I don't think I have ever really looked at in light of parenting.  Verse 3 & 4 really hit home to me especially in light of the day before.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.


We are to prepare our children to be arrows in this world, always shinning bright in darkness and being the salt of the earth.  My main goal is to raise my kids to love the Lord and prepare them to serve him with all of their life.  I often forget this.  But the Lord is always gracious to me  uses my children in my sanctification process.

I mean, who can be frustrated with this little guy???