I STAND AMAZED!

Every day I stand amazed in the awe of my children.  They are growing and maturing in more ways than I can imagine.  Of course I think that they are amazing, after all they are my children, but even people who don’t really know them step back and watch them in pure amazement.  (Okay, maybe pure amazement is probably an exaggeration, but most people think that they are really cool at the very least!)

Take for example my oldest son, John Robert.  My boy who is almost in double digits (he’ll be ten in about three weeks) is one who is showing responsibility in more and more ways.  Like yesterday morning, he got up at 7:00 to get his school work done so he could help me with Cole since Maggie has injured herself again.  He amazes me in his caring attitude and loving heart.

Or take Maggie, my precious oldest daughter who is almost a youth, not a teenager.  In spite of being injured and in intense pain, (The ER said her foot is only sprained not broken, BUT we are supposed to take her to the orthopedic surgeon for only a sprain?  I don’t understand doctors, but I digress.), she is still trying to wash dishes and help with Cole. 

And Ethan, my sweet little man who offers to rub my feet almost daily.  NO, he doesn’t do a great job and yes he usually gets lotion everywhere, but he offers and shows that love.  He also is the one who jumps up when I say I need XYZ done in the house.  Like cleaning the bathroom or unloading the dishwasher.  He’s my helper.

Add to the mix my Cole man who loves to run grab your legs and say “TWO” at every chance throughout the day.  (TWO is his way of saying I LOVE YOU TWO, sweet isn’t it)?  He has not learned this in a home that is not full of love; he has learned this because he is shown love not only by his parents but his brothers and sister.

Yes, I stand in amazement at my children.  More than that, I stand in amazement at what God is doing within the hearts of my children!

This morning in our Bible study we picked up where we left off in John 4 and the story of the Samaritan woman.  We talked about how Christ said that the harvest is ripe, how some sow and some reap.  We talked about how what we do and say affects our relationships with people in a very real way.  We talked about how serving others showcase the love of Christ to a dying world, how we don’t always know the impact that we will have on someone, and why we need to love no matter what; even when we don’t want to.

The insights that my awesome children showed as we discussed this left me in awe, and again I stand amazed at my children.  We discussed how people in our lives claim to love God but choose to not make an effort to show anyone, let alone tell their face.  We talked about people in our lives say that they love Christ but won’t reach out to anyone other than the people in their immediate circle.  We talked about how our hearts hurt over the pain that we see, at the Care Center, with Compassion International, and even with Samaritans Purse and OCC.  Then we talked about how we need to be willing to walk the walk MORE than we talk the talk.

I know that this is not easy.  I know that we all fail daily.  BUT, I am so thankful that my children are getting it.  I am so thankful that in spite of the naysayers (and believe me there are many and I DO KNOW that they talk about us or more specifically me) the heart changes in my children are amazing.  I am thankful that God called us to walk this journey of homeschooling and that He is allowing us to cultivate such a heart of love in our home.  More than that, I stand in amazement, in pure awe of my God who has given me the gift of my children.  I pray that He finds me worthy of this calling.