SOCKS AND SIPPY CUPS
This morning, as I was dilligenty searching the sippy cup section of my local store, I started up a conversation with a fellow mom who was doing the same. Her son was slightly older and prefered the cup with the straw. The dilemna was, however, that their new puppy keeps eating the straws. My needs were much less complex. I just wanted a cup that doesn't leak. We both spent several minutes choosing the "perfect" one.
After I conquered the sippy cup aisle, I headed over to do the same with the socks. This was my second attempt in the same amount of weeks trying to find socks for the child with the world's tiniest feet. It's now even more challenging the closer she gets to walking because the size socks she needs don't typically come with the "grips" on the bottom. Sigh.
That all left me thinking about how challenging parenting can be. Currently, it's sippy cups and socks. But soon it will be car keys and boys. EEEKKK!!!! What's that they say, "little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems".
Now moms, I'm not trying to say that these times with our up-all-night babies that are teething and crying and covered in slober are not challenging. But there will come a day when we will miss this. We will miss their toothless grins, their baby noises (good and bad), and the morning snuggles. All of this that seems so overwhelming now will soon be a distant memory.
When our babies are young, we have an almost insane need for everything to be perfect. We plan as much as we can to ensure that happens. We read and research the best ways to do....EVERYTHING. We are tireless when it comes to our offspring and their physical and mental well being. But are we dilligently seeking God as we are socks and sippy cups?
Deuteronomy 6 is one of my all time favorite passages in the Bible. In verse 5, it tells us that we should love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul and might. Then in verse 7, it tells us that we should DILLIGENTLY teach our children God's laws and instill in their hearts to also love God and seek Him.
Let me encourage you to seek God daily. Take time to do your own personal devotions. I have my own time that I spend in God's word and praying, but Arden and I now do devotions together after breakfast. It takes less than five minutes to read to her from The Storybook Bible.
Listen to Godly music. Kids learn so easily through music whether good or bad. Fill their brains with the good stuff now. If you don't know any, ask. There are lots of wonderful songs that include hand motions that make singing like a fool to your one year old totally enjoyable and not humiliating at all. (even in public places)
Talk about God and find him in EVERY situation. Talk to your kids about how God provides. He gives us a house, food, clothing and lots of extras. He makes the snow and our eyes and the sunshine and trees. Find him in the big things and the little ones. I love showing Arden her baby pictures and telling her story. I tell her about God's love and his perfect timing. And that he created this tiny little baby and the doctors and nurses that cared for her.
Finally, find a Bible believeing church and be faithful. Your faithfulness with squelch a lot of battles as your kids get older. There is never a question as to if we were going to church. We go. It also gives you opportunity to learn more about God and to praise and worship him. It will give you friends and mentors that will help draw closer to God. It will give your kids the same.
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
After I conquered the sippy cup aisle, I headed over to do the same with the socks. This was my second attempt in the same amount of weeks trying to find socks for the child with the world's tiniest feet. It's now even more challenging the closer she gets to walking because the size socks she needs don't typically come with the "grips" on the bottom. Sigh.
That all left me thinking about how challenging parenting can be. Currently, it's sippy cups and socks. But soon it will be car keys and boys. EEEKKK!!!! What's that they say, "little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems".
Now moms, I'm not trying to say that these times with our up-all-night babies that are teething and crying and covered in slober are not challenging. But there will come a day when we will miss this. We will miss their toothless grins, their baby noises (good and bad), and the morning snuggles. All of this that seems so overwhelming now will soon be a distant memory.
When our babies are young, we have an almost insane need for everything to be perfect. We plan as much as we can to ensure that happens. We read and research the best ways to do....EVERYTHING. We are tireless when it comes to our offspring and their physical and mental well being. But are we dilligently seeking God as we are socks and sippy cups?
Deuteronomy 6 is one of my all time favorite passages in the Bible. In verse 5, it tells us that we should love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul and might. Then in verse 7, it tells us that we should DILLIGENTLY teach our children God's laws and instill in their hearts to also love God and seek Him.
Let me encourage you to seek God daily. Take time to do your own personal devotions. I have my own time that I spend in God's word and praying, but Arden and I now do devotions together after breakfast. It takes less than five minutes to read to her from The Storybook Bible.
Listen to Godly music. Kids learn so easily through music whether good or bad. Fill their brains with the good stuff now. If you don't know any, ask. There are lots of wonderful songs that include hand motions that make singing like a fool to your one year old totally enjoyable and not humiliating at all. (even in public places)
Talk about God and find him in EVERY situation. Talk to your kids about how God provides. He gives us a house, food, clothing and lots of extras. He makes the snow and our eyes and the sunshine and trees. Find him in the big things and the little ones. I love showing Arden her baby pictures and telling her story. I tell her about God's love and his perfect timing. And that he created this tiny little baby and the doctors and nurses that cared for her.
Finally, find a Bible believeing church and be faithful. Your faithfulness with squelch a lot of battles as your kids get older. There is never a question as to if we were going to church. We go. It also gives you opportunity to learn more about God and to praise and worship him. It will give you friends and mentors that will help draw closer to God. It will give your kids the same.
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.