Ella's Christmas Program

Ella's school had a Christmas program. It was such a special event that the entire school participated in, grades K-12. They sang some beautiful songs. And we loved being part of such a special occasion that celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Ella before we left

Ella and Mama

Daddy's little girl

 

 

Kindergarteners during the program

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly, she was tickled with him

 

 

 

And, Cale

 

Praying for my kids...

I love the commercial that takes place in a high school. There’s a timid-looking, scrawny boy minding his own business when another boy runs by and slaps all his books out of his hand causing papers to fall out and go everywhere. As he bends down to pick them up the obviously popular jock comes over and helps him gather all of his things. It’s possible I cry every time. I want to raise kids like that-kids that genuinely care about others more than themselves. And in today’s world that’s a tough job. In a world that’s screaming, “It’s all about me,” how do we teach our children to care about others? To overcome selfishness? To step outside the box and instead of just watching when someone gets treated badly to step up and help? Or, most of all, that what the world is saying is wrong and that’s it’s “NOT about me at all?” It’s simple really. We point them to Jesus. We pray for them deliberately, intentionally and daily. The awesome thing is, He answers those prayers. Being a control freak myself, it’s hard to let that go. But, like most things it’s just not mine to hold onto. The shape of my children’s heart is in His hands. Their compassion and love for others comes from Him, not me. How do I know this? Because that’s where mine comes from…when I let Him do his job.

I went on a field trip with Ella this week. I don’t get to see her at school. I don’t see her interaction with her peers on a daily basis. Other than what her teacher tells me I don’t know how she acts when I’m not around. Obviously, we hope for the best. But, today I got to see all those things. I was humbled at the person the Lord is making her to be. I was thankful for his faithfulness in turning her into a respectful and obedient child. I see her everyday, but I was amazed at how much she’s grown. When we got home Matt asked how it went. I told him, “She is so good.” And, crying, I continued, “and I am so hard on her.” I feel like I’m always getting onto her about something, correcting her, disciplining her, rebuking her. Only to find out when I’m not around she acts like she remembers the things we’ve told her. My heart hurt a little. And then he said this, “Abby, don’t you think she’s that way because you are so hard on her?” Well, no, I didn’t. Really, it just makes me feel mean. And then it hit me. That’s how our heavenly father is with us. He’s not easy on us. He lets us go through things to toughen us up, make us stronger, things that are going to give us some spiritual muscle. We don’t become soldiers for Christ because he “babies” us, makes excuses for us or jumps in to save us from our battles. He lets us fail, allows us to mess up and loves us through it. If we let him, he picks us up and turns us around. I love Ella….with my whole heart. Even when I’m mad at her or disappointed. I discipline her because I love her not because I don’t. I expect a lot out of her because I know what she’s capable of. I correct her because I want her to be better than me. I want her to be like Him.

While we were on the field trip one of the moms came up to me who has a son in Ella’s class. She told me that one day while they were playing on the playground some of the boys were racing and her son got pushed down. He stayed on the ground for a minute and started crying. She said she watched as Ella got off her swing, helped him up and dusted him off. Ella then said, “Here, you can have my swing.” Answered prayer. I don’t say this because Ella is a “perfect and exceptional” child. She’s not. She’s human, she’s a sinner and she is a child. She pitches fits, has melt downs, is sassy at times and can back-talk like it’s her job. I’m not a perfect parent. I’m human, I’m a sinner, I’m just a parent. I lose my temper, I have no patience and she and I, on any day, go round and round. I say this because there is power in praying for our children. As parents, it is by far the most powerful tool we have in raising them. Pray for them and over them in all aspects of their lives and who they are. If there is something about our children that is a hardship or struggle, it’s probably because we haven’t prayed about it. And that is nobody’s fault but our own. The list goes on about ways in which we pray for our children. On any given day, any given parent could probably write a novel full of ways in which they could pray for their kids. And on a day-to-day basis it changes. But, there are some things I always pray for Ella and Cale. I pray they will grow to love the Lord with all they have. I pray they will walk so closely with Him that when they sin the holy spirit pounds them immediately with conviction, if not before. I pray they will be compassionate and humble and love like He does. I pray they will have a fire and passion in their hearts to learn His word and live from his truth. I pray that they will have a spirit of discernment and walk in obedience. And I pray their happiness comes from their obedience and love for Him, not from selfish desires or worldly things. Without fail I pray these things because I know that no matter how much money they make, how well known or popular or powerful they are, how awesome they are at relationships or how happy they may be, it means nothing if they don’t know the Lord. And, I know that with EVERY breath I take if I don’t point them to Jesus, then I haven’t done my job as a parent.