Isn’t it beautiful when we get to see the love of Jesus through our kids? This picture captures one of those moments.
My tears are rolling as I look at it. Do you know what my son did? He’s not perfect by any means, but his heart, oh his heart – it’s so beautiful.
My mom lost her husband of almost 50 years of marriage – my dad, who I love dearly – on October 21st. As she was leaving the “Celebration of Life” we did for him (just what he would’ve wanted), my ten-year-old son, walked up to GG, took her purse from her and carried it, put his arm around her, and walked with her, holding her close.
I snapped this picture as soon as I could get my phone out. He took my breath away. I wanted to hold onto that moment forever. We can learn so much from our kids. So much about how to love well.
That, is what I want of my kids.
To choose love first. Above everything.
To care deeply for those around them. To consider their heart, their feelings, their situation.
To ask for forgiveness when they’ve fallen short.
To give grace when someone’s wronged them.
To find “small” moments to show great love.
To be a kid who shines the light of Jesus so bright by the way they treat others.
Not necessarily in big, dramatic ways, but in small gestures, like when my son carried GG’s purse, put his arm around her, and told her he was there for her.
That, is what I want of my kids.
Lord, would you help our kids, and us, to love first? To lead with love and compassion, to put our arms around our loved ones who need it, to walk alongside them, to carry what they need us to carry, and to love them in the same beautiful way you love us? Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, amen. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
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I shared a quote recently by Sissy Goff: “Praise your kids more for their effort than their outcome.” So, today, I saw this mini cake. And, I decided to get it to celebrate Bates, Brooklyn, and Gracie’s (B, B & G’s) great effort in so many things lately.
It would be easy to get caught up in focusing on the sibling arguments, the unkind words said here or there, the messy room, or a number of other things. There’s definitely a time for consequences, but there’s also a time to notice what our kids are doing well.
So, today, I’m going to celebrate how hard they worked on the musical they were in at church, how they have included new kids at their school who didn’t know anyone, and how they have spent hours of working hard at tennis, football, and dance.
Life is too short to not take notice of what our kids are doing well. Find a way to recognize your kids’ efforts today and celebrate that! What’s a simple way you have celebrated your kids?
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In 2011, at just 3 pounds and 3 weeks old, my daughter got an intestinal infection in the NICU. It was the scariest time of our lives as we didn’t know if she would make it. After her second surgery, the nurses told us she was a miracle baby. We are so thankful Jesus healed Brooklyn and our son, Bates, after he got the same infection, and that they fully recovered.
Linsey Driskill 