He Sees Me

So I’ve only been awake about 15 minutes, but already, it’s been a hard morning. Judah & Maddy got up before they’re supposed to and were out of their beds, even though they KNOW the rule is that they can’t get up until 8:00. SIGH. I was/am so discouraged that they just seem to not care about the rules or the consequences. And I was overwhelmed and not even wanting to deal with it, but knowing I had to.

So I sat down with my Bible, and said, “Father, help me! I need to look up some verses on discipline or something, but I don’t have any idea where to find them.” And I felt like He said to look up Proverbs 22:15. I was like, well, okay, I guess it doesn’t hurt to try. So I did, and GUESS WHICH VERSE IT IS?!

“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.”

I am both so encouraged and yet kind of in shock…I mean, one part of me is not surprised at all by this, but the other side…the tiny glimpse of revelation that He really does see me…that part, I’m trying to process! Oh, I know, I know, He sees me, but do I KNOW He sees me? That He's here with me, that He understands how frustrating rebellious children can be, that He wants to guide me so that I can shepherd these little people! That’s so encouraging! I am not alone in this! He is with me! As the Psalmist says, “Selah.” Let’s pause and think about this a moment.

Revelation at St.Arbucks

So I took my oldest daughter, age 6, to Starbucks tonight for some much-needed one-on-one time together. We sat at a table outside, where she enjoyed a hot chocolate and I sipped on a nonfat (yep, I'm actually losing weight!) carmel macchiato. I mostly just sat and marveled at what a cute daughter I have as she chatted incessantly about everything from the number of children she wants to have (and how she would have to have a really big table to accomodate all six of them!) to how maybe we should get a convertible so we can ride around with the top down on sunny days. And, I have to say, I gave in...gave in to all of it. Gave in to the nagging reminder that I need to do this way more often, gave in to the feeling that this little girl is such a treasure and I am so lucky to have her, and gave in to her request to...dance on the sidewalk to the music being piped through the outdoor speakers. Yep, that's right...I nursed a grown-up coffee drink, post-moderns chatted at a nearby table, and my six-year-old delight danced her heart out in the cool November night. She sat sweetly and silently as I visited briefly with some old friends that I haven't seen in 8 years, and then made me laugh my head off after they left with her very original "rabbit dance". Let me just say that this dance begins with hands in front of her chest, curled up like an Easter bunny's, and ends with a very passionate rear-shaking. HILARIOUS!
Did I mention that I love this girl? I have memories of her when she was little, even as young as 8 months old, and we would get the giggles, and just laugh and laugh and laugh together. She has always had that special ability to do that to/with me. I just stood there tonight and cackled away with the kind of hearty guffaws that bring healing to your body and health to your bones! Thank You, Jesus - I am blessed!