A wonderful lesson I have learned…and will probably learn many times in the future! A lesson in loving my littles. I have been reading a children’s book several times to my kids and it dawned on me what God was trying to tell me in parenting lately. It was a book about all the things children do to get their mommy’s attention…saying, “Will You Still Love Me…IF?” They have been searching for mommy’s love…testing…I have been LONGING for obedience…but I was longing for it more than I was longing to LOVE my children through their struggles in obedience. They were testing so much. And God showed me to LOVE them so strongly through it…to show them, YES, INDEED, I will still love you even if you constantly disobey me…BUT, I’m still going to lovingly help you obey 🙂
Obedience comes with SO much effort right now here in our home…and I needed rest this past weekend. We went to Seaworld…so I knew it wouldn’t be super restful in the day…but God gave me rest at night…with spacious rooms for the kids to run around in at our rented cabin for the weekend on the beach at Coronado (military benefits are simply amazing to me…)…and separate rooms to sleep in! And during the day we got to spend time with our precious friends (another amazing gift that I will write about in another entry here soon), the Fallot family…and go around exploring and enjoying SeaWorld together. The kids, so full of energy, loved it…but I struggled to have enough strength to keep up with them after a busy 2 weeks leading up and after the trip (I don’t do well with busy!). God so wonderfully provided…a new, precious song to me…here it is:
Bless the Lord, O My Soul (by Matt Redman):
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
[Chorus x2]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
I’ll worship Your holy name
—
“And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore -”
—THIS is what powerfully spoke to me…and as they tested, we helped them obey with LOVE and firmness…and I sang through it…and prayed for more strength. I’m not so much embarrassed when they disobey anymore…nor by their endless energy…there are no excuses or grumbling from my mouth about them…simple focus and love and attention on them when they struggle…..diligently helping them obey…and asking God for insight into what can help them obey more….and help me understand them more 🙂 God is so gracious to pour into me every part of Himself. It amazes me that God can surrender Himself…pour out everything He has to offer…into this weary, needy, lost soul. And He lifts me up and sets my feet upon a rock every time. I have so many reasons to give praise…He is so worthy…and I pray that He accepts my praise…Our perfect and Holy Father in Heaven.
Walking in Faith 