GRACE... Thursday was a some what yucky day. AS I was driving the kids to the beach, in all my wisdom I answered a phone call right as I was passing a cop. And yes, That nice police man pulled me right over. And come to find out, my driver's licence has been expired for a little over a year. He so gently told me that he would have to tow my car because without a current licence I am officially an unlicensed driver. But then he looked in the back and saw all three of my little treasures waiting so patiently for me to take them to the beach, and he gave me grace and let me keep my car, but still proceeded to hand me a big fat TICKET! For me, the worst part about the whole thing was having to call Joey and tell him what had happened.
I know that my job as wife and mother is of great importance and value but I must confess that sometimes I just wish that I had a job where I made a little bit of money. It was so humbling for me to accept the fact that I am in a position where I have to allow Joey to pay for my mistakes. I know that he didn't look at it that way. He always makes me feel like everything is "ours." But still.
Later that day I got my cell phone wet and now you can no longer see the screen. Bummer. I had to call Joey AGAIN and confess another mistake! By that time I was in tears. I was so worried about calling him and I thought for sure that he was going to be annoyed with me (which I'm not sure why I felt that way because I can count on one hand the number of times that he has been outwardly bothered at me throughout our last nine years of marriage.) But the best thing about Thusrday was the way that Joey respoonded to me when I called about the cell phone... He kinda chuckled a little bit and cracked a joke, "Wow Love, That cell phone sure did cost you a lot of money today. I guess you'll have to pay me back with a kiss when I get home." Can anybody say, GRACE! I was so grateful for his grace towards me. Just so, so grateful! Blessing upon Blessing, don't ya think? :)
A CONVERSATION... I was cleaning the bathroom the other day and all the kids (AJ included) were taking a nap. The night before I heard Reesie crying at 4:30am, when I went into their room I found Halee playing in the bathroom, hence the reason for Reesie screaming. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "just playing." She KNOWS not to get out of her bed!!!! She KNOWS with all her heart. And I KNOW with all my heart that she knows not to get out of her bed.
As I was cleaning I was having a conversation with the Lord,
Me... "Why Lord, do my children continue to do the very thing that they know very well that they are not supposed to do? When are they going to just get it? I am as consistant as I can humanly be. Where is the fruit Lord?
And as I was talking to the Lord about all this Tara came into my bathroom, half flustered, half laughing. It turned out that AJ had gotten out of bed a few times during naps and the consequences that he was recieving didn't seem to be phasing him. I wanted to be encouraging towards Tara but I think all I was able to come up with was something like, "welcome to my world. I totally understand the feeling." She was wondering what she had done wrong. I told her, "nothing, you are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing." Which I believe with my whole heart is true.
When she left the bathroom I continued my conversation with the Lord. Except this time I just listened for awhile. And then I started thinking about the verse that talks about running the race. I am thinking that the Lord brought this verse to my mind. :)... "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." ... and ..."I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." I know that these verses are not about parenting but in that moment they spoke to my heart... they encouraged me about my job as a mom to my MSC. I feel like I repeat myself all the time. I feel like I tell my wee lads the same instructions over and over and over again. Sometimes it feels as if the consequences are NOT working. But I know that the truth is that it IS working. It's like running the race... slow and steady... never giving up...
