As a mother (parent) I often wonder if I'm doing this job right. Sure I provide food, shelter, and clothing for my kids. Some of their wants are met and they are being educated. But what about the rest of it. Am I teaching them to be good members of society. Am I truly helping them to learn compassion for others and a sense of social responsibility. Have I shown them what a Christian life looks like.
Most of the time I think I haven't had much success. Especially when they are tearing through the house screaming at each other and trying to cause someone physical harm. Or when they throw their stuff all over the house with little concern as to the effect it will have on those who have to clean up after them. Their constant complaints that it's not fair, I never get what I want, I always have to do everything. The tattle-tailing and continuous efforts to get another in trouble. The endless demands for clean clothes, snacks, and material goods sometimes make me feel that somewhere I've gone wrong. Somewhere I've made a terrible mistake and am raising a group of loud, selfish people who will do little to contribute to the world.
And then it happens.......
An older brother sees little sister struggling to get in the car and gently offers to help her.
One sibling offers to prepare breakfast for another before he/she gets their own.
A sister cries over the mistreatment of her brother by others.
The five playing together which such cohesiveness it's like the rest of the world doesn't exist.
A child cleaning up the kitchen without be told.
The effort one goes to in order to purchase or make a Christmas gift for each member of the family without requesting money from mom or dad.
An older sibling reading to a younger sibling.
Prayers of thanksgiving for each member of the family and for our Savior.
An offer from a brother to use his tickets to get something for his younger siblings.
A thank you to me for making dinner.
True concern expressed by a child for their grandparent, friend or sibling.
Seeing your child truly worship God.
Theses are the little moments that happen, sometimes not as often as I like, but they do happen, that assure me that my husband and I must be doing something right. These are the times I hold onto during the chaos. At those moments I see glimmers of the men and women my children will become and my heart swells.
Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
