Children Are a Privilege

Chloe reading to us.

This morning we had medical appointments to get to. I should have gotten our things ready the night before but I didn’t. {Isn’t that often the case?!?} The morning was a little rushed and hairy. By the time I got all three children into the van, put Isaac’s wheelchair in and came back into the house to shut off all the lights that the children had left on, I was slightly out of breath and a little snap-ish. I had been in my seat about one second and hadn’t even turned the van on when the request was made, “Mama, can you turn on the songs please?”. My answer had tone when I replied something about patience and privileges.

“Are children a privilege?” a small voice asked me from the back seat.

And my heart stopped. I stopped. And in the three seconds before I replied, a million thoughts swirled in my head as I felt convicted.

“Yes. Children are a privilege; a very special gift and blessing from the Lord.” said I. And then I  whispered it to myself again softly.

Because sometimes I forget.

In the hustle and bustle, I forget that I am not merely crowd control; that there is so much more to shepherding that simply herding. Oh, so much more.

In the hustle and bustle, I forget that makes my calling beautiful is not the things I cross off my list and accomplish but the people, the individual little people who notice when I am impatient and who clearly feel the sting of a tone when it slips out in the midst of my busy-ness.

In the hustle and bust, I forget that my children are by far the most dearest privileges – not mine, but borrowed – and I have them only because of His goodness.

In the hustle and bustle, I forget how very sensitive and fragile these little hearts are. If I don’t guard my tongue carefully, impatience or frustration can roll off it so easily in the tone of my voice. {Oh, Lord, please help me to speak with your love and gentleness!}

Oh, this mama is far from perfect and has no delusions of ever reaching perfection when living in this sinful body on this sin-plagued earth. However, I know that each day, as I learn more about the Lord and submit to Him, I can become a little more like Him, that He lives a little more through me. I’ll mess up, I can guarantee that, but I pray that each passing day, I am more like my incredible Savior.

The things that I love
I hold dear to my heart
They are borrowed and
Not mine at all
Jesus only let me use them
To brighten my life
So remind me, remind me dear Lord

~ Lyrics to Remind Me, Dear Lord

Today, hug your children and tell them what a privilege it is to parent them!