Mysterious Specimen

"How is your research progressing with this particular subject, Doctor?"

"This is a curious creature:  intelligent, cooperative, easily distracted."

"Have you been successful in establishing communication yet?"

"Primarily through grunts and body language, Sir."

"So, it acts like an animal?"

"But, it's definitely human."

"Interesting...and the age?"

"Eleven, I believe."

"And gender?"

"Boy."

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A 55-Word story inspired by the current scientific experiments going on in our home in our endless efforts to raise our pre-teen.  I love that boy!  (but not his wandering socks or misplaced homework or his 87% success rate at following through...)

Linking up with Trifecta - inspired by the word:  animal 

3  :  a human being considered chiefly as physical or nonrational; also :  this nature

Rise and Shine!

7:27 am

"Okay, everybody!  Head to the table, please.  Let's get this party started!"

... groans and general grumpiness resounds ...

"Come on ... let's get this day started right.  Lydia, will you please fetch us our books?  Thanks.  Hey, Aaron, off the iPod."

"I was just checking the temperature."

"Dude, it's cold.  C'mon.  Join us."

"Mom, Norah's in my seat."

"Scoot, scoot.  Find your face and have a seat.  We need to get hopping.  It's a school day."

7:32 am

"Alright.  What's today's date?"

"It's the 19th."

"Nuh-uh.  It's the 18th."

"Yes, too.  Look at the calendar."

"I did.  You look at the calendar."

...scraping of seats and scuffles as kids scramble for the calendar ...

"Hey now, back to your seats.  It's the 19th."

"Told you."

"Enough."

"I don't like it when you say, 'Told you.'  It sounds bossy."

"Can you say you're sorry?"

"Sorry ..."

... grouch, grouch ...

"Like you mean it?"

"Sorry."

"I forgive you."

... grumble, mumble ...

"Okay, can we get going?"

7:35 am

"Let's see.  The title for today's devotional is 'I Am Still Here'.  We read in Psalm 27:8, "When You said, 'Seek My face,' My heart said to You, 'Your face, LORD, I will seek.'"

"Mom, she's touching me with her feet.  And her feet are cold."

"Put your feet down, Sweetie.  Sit up big.  Back to the verse, Whose face are we to seek? ... Hey, where are you going?"

"I just need to put this in my backpack."

"Nope.  Sorry.  I want your attention for just a few more minutes.  In your seat, please.  Okey dokey, Whose face are we supposed to seek?"

"Jesus."

"Right.  Here's some more that the author had to say ..."

7:40 am

"So Who is always watching over us and waiting for us to turn to Him?"

"Jesus."

"Yep ... hey now, sit up and stop fiddling with that.  I just want to read two quick verses:  Philippians 4:7 and Jeremiah 29:13.  They are some of my favorites."

"Mom, you say that every morning."

"It's because it's true!  Now sit tight for just a minute more.  Uhm .. where are you going?"

"I go potty really bad."

"Okay, quick, quick.  The rest of you ..."

"I'm sooo hungry, Mommy."

knock, knock ...

"Just a minute that's Baby S.  Stay put for just a second."

7:47 am

"Okay.  Settle down again, here we go.  Remember that Jesus is always with you.  Always."

"Skwaahk!"

"Honey, I know you love Baby S, but you have to give her some space.  To breathe."

"Yes, Mommy."

"Let's pray really quick and then you can get your breakfast.  C'mon.  Pull yourselves together."

"I pray first."

"Go for it, Weeda."

"Dear Jesus, thank You day.  Amen."

"Amen."

... mass exodus for the refrigerator ...

"Can I make myself an egg?"

Some days I wonder if I'm getting through, if it really matters at all.  I know in my heart that this time is worthwhile, I just wish it wasn't so busy.  And bustling.  And bouncy.  And brisk.

On these mornings, I have to remember that even if my efforts seem fruitless, God's promises still ring true:

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow 
   come down from heaven, 
and do not return to it 
   without watering the earth 
and making it bud and flourish, 
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: 
   It will not return to me empty, 
but will accomplish what I desire 
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Although my brood appears more concerned with the temperature and the calendar and being right, God is planting His Word in their little hearts.  And my job is to keep watering until they bud and flourish!

(Just in case you are wondering, the devotional we use in the morning is the kid's version of Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I can't recommend it highly enough.  I learn a little something every morning, too.)
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Prompt #4 ~ Describe the scene at breakfast.

Are You Still Hungry?!

Some nights, both Aaron and Norah come to the table absolutely and utterly ravenous.  And then dinner goes a little something like this ...

How Can You Still Be Hungry?

My dear, sweet child,
You ate it all.
With all that you've eaten,
I guess you'll be tall.

We started with burgers,
And moved onto chips,
Threw in a few veggies,
And a couple of dips.

And now you say,
"I'm still hungry"?

Well, you also ...

Had a glass of milk,
The real stuff,
Not the drink called Silk,

Munched a couple berries,
Dug out a handful
Of frozen cherries,

Then a dish of peas,
And a quesadilla
Piled high with cheese,

A bowl of "Life",
With a banana,
Sliced with a knife,

A piece of cold pizza,
The one with the veggies
And a whole lotta meatsa,

A PBJ sandwich,
All this food makes
Makes my right eye twitch,

For dessert, a "log" with "ants",
It's time to buy
You longer pants!

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Prompt #1 ~ Write a poem inspired by the last conversation you had with your child.  In this case, our nightly conversation.

What Child is This?

This question echoes in our home on a regular basis.

What child is this that left the bathroom towels on the floor?  Again.

What child is this that chose not to eat breakfast and is now really hungry?

What child is this that forgot to bring home their notebook to work on?

What child is this that didn't nap and is now moaning on the kitchen floor?

What child is this that is standing at the top of the stairs needing a drink of water?

What child is this that has a death grip on my leg and is wiping her nose on my pants?

What child is this who is dawdling along on the way to the van ... without shoes?

That would be my child.

Do you think Mary every asked those questions about Jesus?  Do you think she ever said, "What Child is this who won't go to sleep?"

In spite of the sweetness of this Christmas carol, I would venture to say, "Yes."

What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

(Words by William C. Dix)

Here in this carol we have a serene picture of that first Noel.  Baby Jesus fast asleep, snuggled on His mother's lap.  Angels are singing a lullaby of praise and the shepherds are standing guard around the holy family.  It's a humble birthplace with an audience of livestock, but from here this baby will go on to be the Sacrificial Lamb for all people.  He is worthy of great worship and deserving of the gifts and adoration of kings and peasants.  He sleeps on through the celebration of His birth, soothed by the soft humming of his mom.  A beautiful snapshot of this newborn Babe.

But there is no evidence in Scripture that Jesus was a cry-free, tantrum-free, fussy-free kid.  He was a regular Boy who just happened to have a future as, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6b)  I would have to believe that as Jesus grew, He was a handful in His own way.  Here is one example of a parenting trial, found in Luke 2.


⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
   ⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
 ⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:41-52)

Kind of makes the times when my kids hide in the clothing racks at Target not seem so bad.  


This short passage of Scripture strikes a chord with me me.  It's a small peek into Jesus' family that reminds me of their humanness - two regular people trying to raise a Son.  It is also a validation of the huge and sometimes daunting task it is to raise a child - complete with celebrations and frustrations.  I also can identify with Mary a bit -  neither of us can grasp what God has in store for our children.  And I feel for Mary as she raises the Son of God - no pressure there!


In these few words, I witness Mary train up her Son in the same way, with the same challenges and frustrations, as we moms do today.  And that brings me encouragement.  Because as I've said before, this mothering gig is a doozy!


As I go about raising my kids, I am humbled by the task at hand.  I am charged with not just making sure they are fed and helping them learn to read, I also entrusted with the careful shaping of their personalities and the training up of their hearts.  


I want to make sure that they not only know their multiplication tables, but also how to use their manners at the kitchen table.  


I want to make sure that they play well with others and can also play by the rules.  


I want to make sure that they love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength also that they love the people around them.


I want them to be quick to get their shoes on and get in the van and I also want them to be quick to love and follow Jesus. ("Haste, haste" ... maybe I'll try that instead of "Chop-chop!")


And I want to say, "What child is this who loves Jesus and is hidden in His Word?"


"That's my kid."

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Christmas Play Update:  The kids did great!  We only skipped over one song and our angel only almost fell off his perch once.  Success! Lots of families came and we enjoyed lots of good soups and salads afterwards.  A great kick-off to this final countdown to Christmas!

Listen Up

I don't imagine that this will come as much of a surprise, but ... sometimes I don't think my kids are listening to me.  At all.

Just the other day, my four munchkins were piled around the kitchen table eating breakfast.  They were silent as the slurped their cereal and I took that opportunity to fill them in on what the day looked like.

"This morning we are going to do some laundry, so I need you all to bring your dirty clothes to my room so I can sort it.  Then we have just a few chores to do.  Norah, I need you to unload the dishwasher.  Aaron, the trash really needs to go out and Ashley, I need you to help me clean up the puzzle in the living room.  blah, blah, blah, blah ..."

The kids kept slurping.

I paused in my dishwashing.

"Hello?  Did anyone hear me?"

mumble, mumble, nod, nod ... more slurping ...

I turned off the water, perhaps a bit roughly.

"Hey there ... I would appreciate it if you would respond when you hear me talking to you, please."

Four grunts of, "Yes, Mom."  More slurping.

Back to washing dishes, with my own internal mumbling and grumbling.

It drives me crazy when they ignore me.  I don't talk just to hear myself yammer on.  Is it really too much to ask for a little acknowledgement? A little respect, please.  grrrrr ....


As the kids cleared their breakfast dishes, I was tempted to remind them of their responsibilities, but I bit my tongue (quite literally) and resisted the urge.  Not out of a noble decision not to nag, but out of my yucky old sinful self that partly hoped they would forget just so I could bust them.

Yep.  I was having a great morning.

It is at this point that I would like to say with gratefulness and relief that this is not how God operates.

He is not on the look-out - waiting to bust me when I mess up.
He is not harping on me day in and day out, waiting for me to get my act together.
He is not shouting, "Hello?  Are you listening to Me?" after every word He whispers.
He is not growling when I miss out on His words to me and He has to repeat Himself.

My God is full of grace.
My God is shepherding me gently.
My God is loving in His words.
My God is eternally patient.

He has had all of history to demonstrate these astonishing qualities, including way back with the Israelites.  And that same stubbornness that landed God's chosen people in years of wandering in the desert is very much alive and well in lives of my children and me.  Yes ... I would most definitely include myself in that guilty party.

Recently I was shopping for a dress for a friend's wedding.  I entered the store with a positive attitude, confident that I would be successful in finding what I needed.  But as I began to browse the clothing racks, my confidence wavered.  Suddenly my old insecurities about my hips and arms and hiney all began cropping up.

"You don't have the body to pull that off."
"You don't really think that would fit, do you?"
"You don't stand a chance of making that dress work."

With God's help, I had been feeling better about me and I had been better about accepting this body as is, but as I walked into the dressing room and approached that tiny torture room of mirrors, I wanted nothing more than to head for the van.

And that's when I heard God repeat Himself.  He didn't yell.  He didn't growl.  He didn't announcement that He had something important to say.  As I closed the changing room door behind me, I heard Him sing to me.  Again.

Through the speakers in the changing room came the voice of Bruno Mars singing, "Just the Way You Are".  This is a song that God had already used to touch my heart in regards to my self image.  And he took this opportunity to reassure me.  One more time.

This is how God shepherds my heart.  Not always through Bruno, of course ... but always faithfully and lovingly and patiently.  And I truly believe that He desires me to shepherd my children's hearts in the same way.

When Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, he quotes the Old Testament prophet Isaiah in Romans 10:21, "All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."  That would pretty much sum up how I sometimes feel about my efforts to get my kids to be on the same page as me.  But it would appear that if anyone knows what it's like to have to repeat Himself for centuries and centuries, it would be God!  Not only does God endure our stubbornness and waywardness, but He continues to extend His love to us.  This kind of love ...

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

I believe I have quite a bit to learn from God about how to shepherd my kids.  Gratefully, He gives me instructions (the verse above) and first hand experience (the story above) so I know how much better His way works.

By the way, I really love my kids.  And I love the new dress I got for the wedding, too. :)