Our littlest fellow, masked as spider man, ran into the living room where my husband and I sat with nine other people and let out his loudest two-year-old roar. We had just ended an evening of worship, and his boldness apparently gave the other six kids in the house permission to come on in. Before we knew it, all seven kids (four are ours) were running in and out with capes, toy swords, and masks. This was just another day in the Lefler household.
Phrases I often hear are, “Wow – four boys!” and “You’ve got your hands full.” Yes and yes I do. But I am so grateful.
I recently asked my friend, who has girls, “Are your girls always this calm?” She smiled sweetly and said, “Well, yes.” Haha. I can’t even imagine. Our house is full of wrestling, tackling, and light saber fighting (with anything that could possibly resemble a light saber). Oh, and did I mention that our pull up bar is used more as a jungle gym than an actual piece of exercise equipment? Yes, life is wild and loud and crazy and exhausting.
I hate to say, too often, I’ve focused on the exhausting part, but lately God has reminded me of the joys and the rewards, the privileges and the opportunities of parenting, even in the wild days.
Recently, I was reading Proverbs 31. You know, the famous chapter about the wife of noble character? And it hit me…how have I never noticed the first half of the chapter? It’s all about a mother. Verse one says, “The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle his mother taught him” and the rest of the section goes on to talk about important life lessons that his mother taught him.
To teach takes action. There are so many lessons that can be pulled out of everyday life when we are willing to take the little extra time and energy to bring them out. God loves our children more than we do, and He gives us the opportunity (and responsibility) to walk with them as they are discovering life and Jesus and wisdom.
Below are a few practical things we try to do in our family…
- We discuss the movies they watch (we are still in the cartoon years, but even this is important). Was there anything that wasn’t nice in the movie? What was something that was good? Was there anything we shouldn’t do? Why? Etc.
- We repeat important values as they head out the door for school each day.
- We talk to them about conversations they had at school, when it comes up.
- Occasionally at the dinner table we will say, “Ok, y’all can ask mom or dad any question you want” and then we talk about it.
So whether you have rowdy boys who leave a trail of chaotic joy or quiet little girls who leave a trail of peaceful joy, remember — pour into your children — and enjoy every moment for the gift that it is.
