A Week of Love - Loving Michaela to the Lord

How many times have you heard a parent lovingly say that all they really want for their children is to be happy? Like all the time, right? I think that's probably how most parents measure whether or not they are a good and loving parent. Do they have happy, well-adjusted kids. Understandable, but...

That's not my greatest wish for Michaela.

Yes, of course, I want her to be happy.

But more than that, I want her to be holy.

I've learned in the school of hard knocks (and how did a nice girl like me end up in that school, anyway?!) that circumstances have an awful lot to do with whether or not I feel happy. I have had just a few truly happy, carefree days in the last four years. The not-so-happy ones have outweighed the happy ones. However, I have a deep joy that transcends happy or unhappy circumstances, and that joy is found in my relationship with Jesus.

In Him I have assurance of my salvation and eternal life. (John 5:24)

In Him I have peace that passes understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

In Him I have every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3)

In Him I have an inheritance. (Ephesians 1:14)

In Him I have His Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:12)

And so much more!

For me to only focus on helping Michaela to thrive in school, have a lot of friends, participate in extracurricular activities, and be attractive is just not enough. Because all of those things are temporary, and I want her to live her life for eternal things. Things that will last forever.

I am one of the most inexperienced parents on the planet, but I do have more experience with life than many parents of very young children (thanks to my advanced maternal age). And my experiences have taught me that these are the things my daughter needs to learn from me. 

Train a child up in the way he (or she!) should go

And when he (or she!) is old he (or she!) will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Because I love her so, I am committed to:

Teaching her as much as I can about Jesus.

Reading and studying the Bible together.

Praying together about everything.

Singing His praises together in the car and at home.

Attending church together.

Providing her with a Christian education.

Modeling a biblical worldview for her.

And whatever else the Lord leads me to do.

Of course I will encourage her to develop her God-given talents and abilities, and I will point out opportunities for her/us to use them to serve the Lord as well.

In John 10:10 Jesus said that He came to give us life, and that it would be an abundant life. That's exactly what I want for Michaela.

Love,

A Week of Love - True Love

Ah, Valentine's Day... My students love it. They can't wait to pass out their drugstore Valentines to one another, and get high on sugar. But once beyond the elementary school social scene, most people are ambivalent to Valentine's Day. I think Valentine's has become a Hallmark holiday - an opportunity for retailers to sell their stuff. For many people, it's a low point on the calendar, and a glaring reminder of the true love they believe is lacking in their life.

But true love has nothing to do with cards, flowers, candy, or a romantic get-away.

True love left His heavenly home and humbled Himself to become one of us.

True love healed the sick and raised the dead.

True love spoke the truth in love.

True love gave Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins - and yours.

True love overcame the grave and rose again.

True love lives forever and will return one day.

True love will wipe every tear from my eyes and make all things new

True love is found at the foot of the Cross.

The world substitutes true love with things, and sometimes with people. Things break. People can break our hearts, or die (true story...).

Jesus is my true love, but I don't always love Him in return the way I should. My love for Him is distracted by my earthly desires and responsibilities. This week I'm going to attempt to write about love from a biblical perspective, and focus my heart on my true love.

Love,

My Funny Girl

Michaela is very vivacious, and she has a great sense of humor.

You can see she likes to have fun!

Two things she's doing lately just crack me up. First, she's cuh-razy about Thomas (the Train). Nick Jr. has become kind of lame these days (with the exception of Dora and the Fresh Beats), so we've spent more time watching Sprout. They have these little segments where homemade birthday cards are featured for little viewers with birthdays that day. Many of the cards have the characters on the Sprout shows on them. When a card comes up with Thomas on it, Michaela yells "Thomas!" and then she tears up rather dramatically. It reminds me of those old news clips where teenage girls went hysterical for the Beatles or Elvis. She's practically inconsolable. I can't help but laugh, and I think that offends her. Oh, well...

The other thing that makes me laugh is that Michaela won't let me brush her teeth unless she gets a timeout first. Every time I take her into the bathroom to brush, she turns her head and won't open her mouth. So then I ask her if she needs a timeout, and she will enthusiastically say yes. I sit her down in the hallway for one minute (she seems very happy while this is happening - no tears), and then I tell her she needs to be cooperative while I brush her teeth. She says okay or sorry, and then we go in and brush without any more trouble. Happens every time! I actually plan on it now.

It is a pleasure to see her personality developing more and more. She is such a happy and sweet-natured toddler, and I'm a blessed momma.