Remember my little list from yesterday? My “refresh myself” list?
Yep, did that.
Feeling better already.
Isn’t it strange how God sends you unexpected blessings just when you need them most? We’ve been having some knock down, drag out, screaming banshee battles with our boys lately over first time obedience. Some of it’s been very ugly and heart-rending. No mother likes to see her children acting like demon-spawn and Tuesday evening was tough around here. But last night my little crew were just so good. They were helpful. They were cheerful. They were obedient…they were loading the dishwasher by themselves when I came in from the chores!
And they were loving.
Oh the hugs that were passed around…the cuddles we enjoyed on the couch…it was balm to my tired heart!
And just for the record, I’m not far enough along in this journey to even begin to give parenting advice. But I’d like to share something I’m learning. I’m coming to understand that if it’s not first time obedience, then it’s not actually obedience at all. And the whole point of obedience to parents is that it lays the foundation for and models obedience to God. Each time I’ve reminded my children recently that we expect them to Obey Immediately, Obey Completely, and Obey Cheerfully, I’ve heard the Father whispering to my heart…“I expect you to obey immediately, obey completely, and obey cheerfully. How’s that been going lately?”
Then at bedtime I tucked them into their nice, clean beds, in their nice, neat rooms and we whispered for a moment about more of our decorating plans. About stacking our bunk beds. About hanging cowboy pictures. About making a cushion for the new desk chair and a cover for the new sewing machine.
And oh, the ideas I’ve seen lately. Some of them are crazy–an actual Cinderella pumpkin carriage bed? Let’s be real. Each to their own, I guess. But some of it is very creative and do-able. I’m looking for things that are fun, but not too theme-y or too age-specific. I want the rooms to grow with them to some degree–but not be inappropriate for them right now either. We’re not going to be re-doing them every 3 years.
But oh, I want them to like it too! I want them to be happy there. I want them to be relaxed and feel refreshed and secure when they’re there. I want it to inspire them, and make them smile to walk in. (And make them want to keep it neat and clean!) And there’s always that concern about it being my style, rather than theirs.
So once again I’m feeling inspired and ready to have the weekend off to get busy again!
Question–how much do you involve (or would you involve) your kiddos in arranging and decorating their own room? What problems (or great solutions!) have come out of a “teamwork” approach with your children in something like this?
