Totally Amazing; He Really Gets It

Last night our family attended a concert put on by the group Children of the World; they were orphans from Uganda with some of the most beautiful music, and heartbreaking testimonies I have ever heard. After the concert we got a chance to visit with these precious children. Their smiles were so warm and they were captivated both by my little blond haired blue eyed baby (and the fact that she has no teeth) and the Dr. Suess book she was holding. They took the book and began devouring it as if they had never seen a Dr. Suess book before; they stood in a little huddle all taking turns reading the strange sounds of Fox in Socks a couple times over.

Jakob was struck by their interest in reading and he gathered his four favorite Dr. Suess books we had in the van and gave them to these children. I had been feeling a bit guilty and ashamed that we had nothing to give these children when they took up a love offering, and that we walked by the sponsership table without being able to stop and sign up. I felt worthless as if we had nothing to give; but my seven year old son knew better. He knew that true giving is not measured by a dollar amount it is measured in your heart. He gave these children a true a heartfelt gift that they cherished. Now I realize it will not help the millions of children orphaned and abandonned in Africa; but it will bring some joy to the small group of children traveling around america for the first time, and they will be able to take the books back to the other children at the orphanage in Uganda and share the fun of Dr. Suess.

In a completely separate moment, Jakob and I had run to the store for some food for our new kitten and had parked next to a car with an RMHS Lobos sticker and he asked me what a Lobo was so we started talking about wolves. After talking about how sometimes wolves will kill a farmer or ranchers sheep he was very quiet for a little while then he said, "Mommy, Satan and his demons are a lot like wolves because they like to kill and destroy Gods sheep. But He is our shepherd and He protects us"

It was a great night for me as a mom; as he said those words I knew that I have set his little feet on the right path, the path that leads to his Heavenly Father. In those two instances, I saw his heart and heard his faith; I said to myself the struggle is worth it. I have been feeling pretty low as a mother and as a person for the last few months, I have been feeling like a failure but last night God used my son to show me that we are on the right path as long as we obey and follow Him in everything we do; including and especially raising our kids. He also showed me that feeling sorry for myself is no way to get out of this funk, prayer and trusting in Him through this season of struggle will get me through. If I humble myself, work hard, deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him; I will be able to lead my children to Him as well. That should be my priority as a mother, not being super mom.

And to think I learned all that from my kid!!!!