My talented sis-in-law took these back at Thanksgiving. I cannot believe that I have never posted them.
I tear up almost every time I look at this. I cannot believe how fast she is growing.
On days when I feel like I have failed miserably at parenting because I am so frustrated with them, and wish that they would just do what they are supposed to do, and "act right", this illustration from
Growing Kids Gods Way is a gentle reminder to me of all that they are to God.
"One Christmas our daughter Jennifer received a Holly Hobbie doll that she cherished for many years. There was an occasion when she asked if I would hold her doll while she made up Holly's bed. 'Be very careful how you hold her daddy,' was a common instruction. Her mother and I would look at that patched doll with its stained clothing and missing hair and focus on its material value. We often thought that pile of cloth must cost more to maintain than it was worth. to us, that doll was valueless,but not to its owner. To Jennifer, that doll was
precious. And the more tattered it became, the more care and love she gave it. Jennifer's words 'Be very careful how you hold her', governed our care.
We held that doll, not based on our perception of its value, but on the value assigned by its owner." - Excerpt from
Growing Kids
Although, I have never believed that my children were valueless, there have been times that I have focused on their
stained clothing, missing hair, and patches (sins, failures, stubborn attitudes), and have been so frustrated, worn out, put out with them, and angry that I have forgotten how very valuable they are to their owner, and that He is asking me to "
be very careful how I hold them" (speak to them, love them, look at them, etc.). My parenting should reflect how priceless they are to their owner, not how I feel about what they are doing that very moment. And although I
have to give attention to the
torn clothes, missing buttons and hair, I must restore them with tender care, always bringing them back to the standard (God's Word and Biblical virtues), and not allow myself to love with my limited abilities, rather Christ in me. I must ask God everyday to reveal my children to me. Reveal what He sees, and remove the scales from my own eyes. Reveal their beauty, in the midst of their ugly sins. Reveal their tenderness, underneath the callouses that have already begun to form, even at this early age. They are precious and priceless to their owner, I am only a steward of their care, and they are a gift to me.
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