I took the girls to North Town Coffee shop today. What fun we had...we spent time having a Bible study together, putting together a puzzle and playing "war" and "go fish". I wish I could say that this is a regular occurrence, but it is something I need to do more often. I am learning that one thing that really helps me give undivided attention to my kids is to be away from home. Maybe that sounds odd...or even wrong...but when I am home I am so easily distracted by all that needs to be done...but a trip to the park, a car ride, a visit to the coffee shop, a walk outside really wipes out those distractions and ends up being a sweet time of playing, laughing and conversation. Not that we don't ever share precious moments inside our home...we do...but it takes A LOT more work for me. I am praying that God would continue to mold me and help me to just "temporarily forget" about all that needs to be done and give me a devotion to my kiddos that rises above "stuff". I read a quote on "A Bushel and a Peck Blog" a couple of days ago and while I don't know anything about the author who said it (Dr. Purvis), it's a quote that I have been pondering and have felt a bit of a needed "rebuke" by it!
"Not because I was perfect but because I was present."
Yes, my kids need to see a godly example lived out before them...but they also need to see it in the context of living among them as I enter their world and we enjoy the sweet relationship of mother and child. Carolyn Mahaney says:
"You must regard parenting as one of your most important tasks while you have children at home. This is your calling...there is nothing more important. You have only a brief season of life to invest yourself in this task. You have only one opportunity to do it. You cannot go back and do it over."
How scary...but how exciting, too! And how wonderful to know that we have a Savior Who is quick to forgive and Who will accomplish His purposes for us and our family not because of any good in and of ourselves but because His perfect goodness has been imputed to us and He is working through us!
"He(God) made Him(Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
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