Character or Comfort?

Samuel

Jesse Bear

Huddy Buddy

Reflective Samuel

I'll try to keep this short, just some things I have been mulling over lately in regards to my responsibility as a mother, and the choices I make for our family. I have the wonderful opportunity to meet with a group of ladies monday evenings to discuss some parenting concepts by Gary Thomas - its a wonderful time of fellowship. I am so blessed with wonderful, wise, God fearing friends out here - God is so good to provide abundantly so much more than we ask or think. We are continually amazed at His overflowing provision in our lives.

Here is the quote that struck some pretty deep chords within written by Abigail Adams - mother of John Quincy Adams:

"It is not in the still calm of life... that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and statesman."

What is in my heart for my boys? Do we seek holiness over happiness for our lives individually and for a family collectively? Daily - I have that choice to make with each decision I come up against in regards to my child rearing style. I'm not talking about giving out the daily jelly beans or afternoon treats here, I am talking about the energy it takes to resolve conflict properly between individuals in our family unit, or sitting patiently convincing and spoon feeding heathy food into strong willed toddlers. I'm talking about taking the time to explain why we can't behave like David (even though he was the good guy) and throw rocks at your brother's head. Trying to make sense of those stories, and explain why David was the good guy even though he chopped Goliath's head off. I'm talking about exposure/awareness to what families are suffering all around our world. Oh I could go on and on - I am sure each of you all could add to the list of times where we are given a choice to choose between comfort and character. Easily said - another thing to do it - day in and day out.

Sam's heart was engaged last week as I showed him news footage of the situation down in Haiti.

"Oh mommy - those boys and girls have no food, and no mommy and Daddy - when I get older I will be a doctor and go and help them"

He has God's heart of compassion. I have that one too. It hurts - indescribable. How can I explain it -I'll try - someone stomping on my heart with a very heavy boot and I can't catch my breath at all - so we pray to make sense of it all. And that is only a trillion billion hundred million thousandth of a fraction of the sorrow that God feels when his beloved children are suffering.

Sam asked me the other day "Who does hold God when He cries?"

I didn't know what to say. Maybe we do in a way when we're curled up sleeping in his lap...

Sat afternoon we had the chance to go and do some beach combing, our favorite pass time, and started up a fire right there on the beach, and enjoyed the amazing environment that we are in right now for this season. Ade and I were just amazed that we were outside in tee shirts mid Jan! This we can handle. God is good. For now we are called here - and enjoying this Island that God has given us.

Sent - Went - Put.

Enjoying the Put part.....

Hope you all are too.