The thunder is crashing and rain is pouring down. A summer storm is upon us.
A storm, He is 12, crashing thunder!
School started yesterday, we all gear up! Prayers were said, books opened," This will be the greatest year yet!" I believed it!:
1st day, I wake him at 6:30 to join me for a jog, he complained during the run. He loved school until it came to math. I know math is hard, but complaining is not necessary! We repeat regularly at my house, "Do everything without complaining and arguing..." Crash!
Day 2, Tough Guy starts complaining about math AGAIN. "Here it comes," I groan to myself and I felt my attitude changing. I let Tough Guy know that math is just something we have to do whether we like it or not." I understand that you do not love it, but its necessary," I said!
Do not miss the Blessing in the Storm!
A storm, He is 12, crashing thunder!
School started yesterday, we all gear up! Prayers were said, books opened," This will be the greatest year yet!" I believed it!:
1st day, I wake him at 6:30 to join me for a jog, he complained during the run. He loved school until it came to math. I know math is hard, but complaining is not necessary! We repeat regularly at my house, "Do everything without complaining and arguing..." Crash!
Day 2, Tough Guy starts complaining about math AGAIN. "Here it comes," I groan to myself and I felt my attitude changing. I let Tough Guy know that math is just something we have to do whether we like it or not." I understand that you do not love it, but its necessary," I said!
2nd day and we have trials! I mentally say, "Okay Lord, I need ya, help me out here, it's seriously the 2 ND day..." Crash!
We move on and a few hours later it is time for kitchen duty, 12 year old blurts out, "I need help, I cant do this all by myself!" It doesn't stop there, he continues, "It's not fair, why do I have to clean the kitchen?"... Crash!
We move on and a few hours later it is time for kitchen duty, 12 year old blurts out, "I need help, I cant do this all by myself!" It doesn't stop there, he continues, "It's not fair, why do I have to clean the kitchen?"... Crash!
I try to keep my cool because I promised myself this would be the best year yet. I make him aware that his brother and sister have not yet complained today and they are done with school and their chores! That was not enough to stop the war in his heart!
School and chores are in the past and free time is among us. I am scrounging the fridge for a snack because I have not yet had a meal and the kids are in the basement playing. I look in the sink and see food hovering over the drain and a broken glass in the dishwasher. I call Tough Guy upstairs and address the issue and while I am speaking I see he is not happy about redoing his work, but he does. He returns shortly to the basement and what do you know, crying from Little Lady happens as soon as he shows up!... Crash!
At that point I have had it!
I call him up and send him to his room for an hour of much needed rest on his part and mine.
It is amazing how quickly an hour goes by.
I walk in and find him waking from a deep slumber. It was now time to address this heart issue.
Behavioral issues are most of the time heart issues.
When heart surgery is needed the BEST place to go is the Word of God! I open the Bible to Luke chapter 6, "Love your Enemies!"
He gives a half sassy grin like really mom!
I ask him to read.
It is easy when we read this passage to quickly say, "I can love my enemies, sure I can!"
"Lets talk about our enemies! Could your enemy be your brother or sister? You would not think so, but when you lose your self control and get angry how do you love them? When mom has you do your math or a chore you despise, how well do you love her?
It is the daily love when you are tired or not getting your way that challenges us.
It is easy to love when you are only around someone for a few minutes and they do not demand anything from you, but what happens when its your family and you are with them ALL day?
Luke chapter 6:30 says, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Ouch!
Did you just kick your sister because she took what was yours downstairs?
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? It is easy to love when we are being loved and life is going our way, but the real question is, how do I respond when it is NOT going my way?
Folks, this is a hard concept for some adults to comprehend, including myself. We went on to read that "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit..."
I looked my son in the eye and I said, "I witnessed you giving your heart to Christ, and I know you have Christ in you." I went on to say, " I do not want you to answer me, but think to yourself, Are you truly surrendered to God?" "Do you really love Jesus and believe he loves you so much that he created you in his image?"
I again let him know not to answer me, but to ponder his heart and ask the Lord to show him why he is so angry. Let the Lord reveal his anger and take it to the cross. Tough Guy needs to be in the word and in prayer seeking the holy spirit.
Some of you may think he is too young for this talk, but I disagree. If he can get a hold of his fleshly attitude, including anger, complaining, and selfishness as a child he will not be hit with a brick by it when his wife brings it out of him. Someday life will be much harder than math and chores. I want my children to know how to handle this world and by addressing heart issues now they are on their way to conquering what I wish I knew as a child.
As I think back on this day, this is why I home school. Not because I want a perfect child with no complaining and we are all excited about math. I home school because these heart issues need to be addressed and the best place to attack these issues is in the Word of God.
So I have learned that my prayer needs to be different. Instead of "Lord, give me the best home school year ever," I am praying, "Lord help me to stay rooted in you so that I can open your word and equip my children to desire a real relationship with you!"
After the talk between my son and I, he came to me with a huge hug asking me to forgive him and he told me how much he loves me! I squeeze back and rejoice and forgive! I love...The Storm is Over!
School and chores are in the past and free time is among us. I am scrounging the fridge for a snack because I have not yet had a meal and the kids are in the basement playing. I look in the sink and see food hovering over the drain and a broken glass in the dishwasher. I call Tough Guy upstairs and address the issue and while I am speaking I see he is not happy about redoing his work, but he does. He returns shortly to the basement and what do you know, crying from Little Lady happens as soon as he shows up!... Crash!
At that point I have had it!
I call him up and send him to his room for an hour of much needed rest on his part and mine.
It is amazing how quickly an hour goes by.
I walk in and find him waking from a deep slumber. It was now time to address this heart issue.
Behavioral issues are most of the time heart issues.
When heart surgery is needed the BEST place to go is the Word of God! I open the Bible to Luke chapter 6, "Love your Enemies!"
He gives a half sassy grin like really mom!
I ask him to read.
It is easy when we read this passage to quickly say, "I can love my enemies, sure I can!"
"Lets talk about our enemies! Could your enemy be your brother or sister? You would not think so, but when you lose your self control and get angry how do you love them? When mom has you do your math or a chore you despise, how well do you love her?
It is the daily love when you are tired or not getting your way that challenges us.
It is easy to love when you are only around someone for a few minutes and they do not demand anything from you, but what happens when its your family and you are with them ALL day?
Luke chapter 6:30 says, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Ouch!
Did you just kick your sister because she took what was yours downstairs?
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? It is easy to love when we are being loved and life is going our way, but the real question is, how do I respond when it is NOT going my way?
Folks, this is a hard concept for some adults to comprehend, including myself. We went on to read that "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit..."
I looked my son in the eye and I said, "I witnessed you giving your heart to Christ, and I know you have Christ in you." I went on to say, " I do not want you to answer me, but think to yourself, Are you truly surrendered to God?" "Do you really love Jesus and believe he loves you so much that he created you in his image?"
I again let him know not to answer me, but to ponder his heart and ask the Lord to show him why he is so angry. Let the Lord reveal his anger and take it to the cross. Tough Guy needs to be in the word and in prayer seeking the holy spirit.
Some of you may think he is too young for this talk, but I disagree. If he can get a hold of his fleshly attitude, including anger, complaining, and selfishness as a child he will not be hit with a brick by it when his wife brings it out of him. Someday life will be much harder than math and chores. I want my children to know how to handle this world and by addressing heart issues now they are on their way to conquering what I wish I knew as a child.
As I think back on this day, this is why I home school. Not because I want a perfect child with no complaining and we are all excited about math. I home school because these heart issues need to be addressed and the best place to attack these issues is in the Word of God.
So I have learned that my prayer needs to be different. Instead of "Lord, give me the best home school year ever," I am praying, "Lord help me to stay rooted in you so that I can open your word and equip my children to desire a real relationship with you!"
After the talk between my son and I, he came to me with a huge hug asking me to forgive him and he told me how much he loves me! I squeeze back and rejoice and forgive! I love...The Storm is Over!
Crashing storms will come and go but Gods promise holds true. Joy comes in the morning! Hold on, because the peace that surpasses all understanding is in charge of your life.
Do not miss the Blessing in the Storm!
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