A Lesson from my daughter

I learned a lesson tonight from my 11 year old!  We were talking about responsibility, maturity and other character qualities.  She inquired about earning back "her makeup" privilege.  Well, I explained that it wasn't about how many chores she did, it was about showing a level of maturity to wear the makeup.  She has always struggled with material things, jewelry, hair styles, shoes and clothes, so we often talk about this subject.  But tonight was different.....tonight I learned of something I have taught her by my behavior.  There are so many things on my list of sins, but this is one I hadn't even thought of yet!  I tried explain(as I often do) that it isn't important how we look, how well we dress, if our hair is just so or if our makeup is on just right.  Then I asked this...."do you think I spend too much time worrying with the way I look?"  As to which she replied, "well yeah, sometimes."  I can't even imagine the look on my face at that answer....."really?" I thought and she quickly gives me an example.  "Last night when you said you had an outfit picked out for church, but if you felt bloated in the morning you wouldn't wear it.  Remember?"   OOOOooooooooohhhhhhh, Yeah I did say that didn't I?  In an instant I relaized the sin I had mirrored for my struggling daughter!  The apple didn't fall far from the tree.  As I realized how right she was and admitted to her of my sin in my behavior, I asked her to help me.  I asked for her forgivness and she easily forgave me.  I had never thought of my dress, hair and makeup as a stumbling block for her, but they are.....I do spend too much time worried about how I look when I leave the house, or what I look like on Sunday morning.  God doesn't care!  Those things aren't important!  My heart is what God sees....why dress it up?  Why parade it around in front of a mirror for Him?  He knows the deepest darketst secrets of my heart, and now I see it for its awful wickedness.

As I apologized to my daughter, I looked deep into her big beautiful eyes and I saw them smile back at me.  She had no more sadness in her eyes and I asked her, "do you feel better now that we talked?"  As to which she replied "oh yes, I feel better now that I know that I'm not struggling alone, mommy."  And I kissed her quickly goodnight, and came downstairs to cry.  Oh how my heart is grieving for my sin and the sin that I have passed along to my child, but how I rejoice that Jesus paid the price for my sin and He will give strength to us both to fight this sin!

Lord, I thank you for the innocence of children, for childlike faith, bedtime talks and open minded hearts to hear you when you speak through a child.  I thank you for using my daughter to speak to me and show me of my guilt within my heart.  I ask you to clease me and strengthen me to fight this battle....a battle that you have already won!  Praise to the Lord, the Victor over the grave, the Creator and Maker of all things, including me and my daughter.  May you grant us both peace and wisdom as we conquer and triumph in Your name! Amen!

Will you love??

Ahhh....the peace of freshly fallen snow.  Isn't it beautiful?  It started snowing here late yesterday afternoon as I drove the 2 oldest arrows to their sleepover at a friends house.  Earlier yesterday we made sure to pack extra clothing just in case the snow actually arrived and they needed to stay an extra evening.  Well, I'm sure the children must have been ceaselessly praying because we awoke this morning to 6" of snow here in our town.  The town where they are got at least 4".  They are having a blast at their friends and I am missing them terribly.

The youngest 3 arrows woke early and wanted to play in the snow.  "Let's make a snowman!"  The snow is too fluffy for that, it doesn't pack well at all, it kinda crumbles.  So that didn't work.  Our youngest arrow lasted only a few minutes before screaming his head off!!  He had had enough and wasn't taking it anymore.  In his defense, it was still sleet/snowing, the wind was blowing and it was cold out there!  We sent him inside while the youngest girl arrow decided to sled down the driveway with Daddy pulling her.  Well needless to say, 2 times and she was done and ready to go inside.

After getting the younger ones settled inside, I continued to take some pictures of the beauty surrounding us.  I am always so amazed at the snow, I mean think about it.  Every single snowflake is different!!!!  No two are alike.  I can't even begin to imagine how that is possible, can you?  There is 6 inches of snow in my yard, all over my neighborhood, all over the town I live in, surrounding towns, up to surrounding states!!!!  And NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE!!!!!!!  What an awesome Creator we have, how immeasurable His love for us.  He shows us His divine power through His creation and we see it everyday, but do we stop to think about it?  Really?  I often see, feel and experience these "God Moments" or "God Thing" and I am still constantly in awe of Him and all He does.  Are you?

Another thing I am in awe over is the way that God has provided for me throughout my life, whether I professed to be His child or not.  He has always cared for me, loved me and molded me to be the woman He wants me to be.  I am forever grateful and indebted to Him.

Today marks a very special day for me and my husband.  It was 17 years ago today that we were united and made into ONE.  I married my best friend, my soul mate, my help meet, my lover and friend.  At the ripe age of only 19 I thought I knew everything and I thought there was no way I could love anyone more than I loved my new husband on that day.  God has grown me in so many ways.  Not only do I love my husband more today than that day, but my heart has been blessed to love 5 Blessed and Earthly children and 1 Heavenly Child I have waiting.  I can't explain the love that one has for a spouse, but I can

tell you that it is far beyond anything you could ever dream or wish for.  These little beings have been given to me to care for, mold, instruct in the way of the Lord, guide to know Him, and protect as best as I can.  How can your heart hold so much love for one person, let alone 6 more????  Only God can fill your heart and make it stretch.  I don't feel by any means that my heart is stretched to its max.....I have sooo much more to give, My Savior, my husband, my children, my family and my friends.  Oh how grateful I feel today to have been blessed beyond all measure.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and may have strength to height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all grounded in love, comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:14-19

 So I leave you all with this question.  How are you loving?  Are you loving to your fullest extent or are you with holding from your Creator?  Will you not give to Him freely the love He has promised you, that He gave you in the first place?  I will choose to LOVE today and always.

Happy Anniversary My Love.  Thank you for 17 wonderful years together and May the God Peace grant us many more years together!  I LOVE YOU!