Kids!

          During my growing up years, we attended an annual family reunion. We made our way around all the tables full of family, specially making sure we greeted the elderly.

          When we reached Great Uncle Dan? Same exchange year after year. He looked at my sister, smiled, and exclaimed as if heaven were shining on him, “Angel child!” Then he eyed me, shook his head, and said with a voice of doom, “Tsk-tsk! Born in the briar patch!”*

          (Our mom agreed with Great Uncle Dan. Our dad remained silent on the subject. Probably because he was also “born in the briar patch.”)

          Siblings (even identical twins) can be so different from one another—like night from day, as the saying goes.

          Our own children differed greatly too, as do their children.

          Let me share with you a little about two of our grandkids. Brothers.

          Not long ago, 5-year-old TJ and 3-year-old JC sent us some of their artwork. The subject matter actually reflected their personalities pretty well (smile). With these paintings, a note from their dad:

“We wanted to send you flowers…

TJ made a flower garden picture.

JC painted what looks like a compost pile!”

          The next time I talked with my sister via Facetime (video phone), I had to show her our grandboys’ artwork along with their dad’s comments. We had a good laugh as her mind went to the same place mine had.

          She piped up with, “Sounds just like Great Uncle Dan! I was the Angel Child!”

          “Yeah, I know,” I said. “And how can I ever forget where I was born!”

          No matter how different our kids are, we love them all dearly. Some require more time invested. You know, those “born in the briar patch.” Those who “create compost.” And sometimes these who challenge us more also wear us to the point of wanting to quit, not to mention exhaustion and tears.

          That’s why our kids, grandkids, great-grands need our commitment to aim them toward God, no matter how easy or difficult they are. Some seek God, some question, some walk away. Oh, how they need to know the love of the One Who created us all—unique every one!

          Parents of those “spirited” kids, though, surely must love them to “survive!”

          Let’s go a step further! How does the Heavenly Father view His children? He certainly knows our differences, gave us a road map to navigate life—His Word, the Bible, and loves us to the nth degree. Because of This Great Love, He never quits on the toughest cases and offers second chances, third, and more. What a Pure Example for us parents to follow when raising our families!

          I admit, I love the angel child’s garden very much, but I as much love the briar patch menace’s compost pile. After all, don’t kids need to bloom where they’re planted? And doesn’t a healthy garden require fertilizer? (Smile.)

I am so glad that our Father in heaven tells of His love in the Book He has given;

Wonderful things in the Bible I see, this is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

 

(Refrain) I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;

I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.

 

Though I forget Him and wander away, kindly He follows wherever I stray;

Back to His dear loving arms would I flee, when I remember that Jesus loves me. (Refrain)

 

O, if there’s only one song I can sing, when in His beauty I see the great King,

This shall my song in eternity be: O, what a wonder that Jesus loves me! (Refrain)

 

(from the hymn Jesus Loves Even Me by Emily S. Oakey—attributed—author, P.P. Bliss, 1871, public domain)

 

#kids #lovingourchildren #raisingkids #uniquepersonalities #strongwilledchildren #Godslove #Jesuslovesme

 

 

*reference to an Uncle Remus story, popularized by journalist, Joel Chandler Harris

 

Photo credit: M. Tripp for the initial image