Butt-head and other pretty words

1 John 3:18
Dear Children, Let us not merely say that we love each other, let us show this truth with our actions.

Sometimes parenting can be challenging...can I get an Amen?

My good one (the boy) has been pushing the limits lately. We tied the source of this terrible behavior to a boy at school we'll call Judas. Judas has spent this school year picking and pushing my beloved son. We've worked very hard at home to equip him. Because after all, there are jerks in my everyday life and it is necessary to figure out how to survive the check out line at Wal-mart.

The verse I started with is the one our family is memorizing this month. It has been more effective than some of the others I've tried to burn into their minds. The boy has been intentionally showing love when he remembers and he's not hungry or mad. But yesterday, on the way home from church and an hour of Jesus, we argued. Our 3 minute commute turned into a death match of words! So after the boy called the girl a Liar, I proceeded to really stick it to him (in Jesus' name...) and told him to stop being a butt-head.

True Classy parenting is happening here!

But I still love him deeply...even during his butt-head moments. (Which I am quite convinced he learned from the big one...he's hot, but not perfect). And today God gave me a quote from my new favorite author and mom Jen Hatmaker....

“Your kids might act like shining angels dropped them straight into your arms from the bosom of heaven, and if so, the rest of us don’t really like you. But if you have a challenging child, or a stubborn child, or one who refuses to learn his lesson—okay, basically all kids—forgiveness is a peculiar discipline to practice as mothers.” Excerpt From: Hatmaker, Jen. “Out of the Spin Cycle.”

Today, on purpose, I will chose Grace and love on my little man in that smothering embarrassing mother kind of way. I challenge you to love exceedingly deeply today. The big ones and little ones need you more today than yesterday.

Joyfully full of it,
Tiff

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