A little Freckle

So the other night, while washing my hands after a not worth mentioning task of mothering, I overheard this conversation. Karis says, "Freckle" as she points to Karson's said freckle only revealed during certain moments of the day. Karson says, "yep it's my freckle on my bottom, I take it everywhere with me, it's been there for a long time." Granted a long time to him is the roughly 3 years it has been with him, but I had to stop and think for a moment...do I treat my relationship with Jesus much like this freckle...He's with me always, but do I respond like He is there only during certain moments of my day, do I only care that He's there when someone else asks me about it? Do I only make mention of it when I am reminded? Am I only aware of His presence when I'm by myself, in the rare quiet moments in my mind and heart? I don't want my relationship with Jesus to be like a freckle, only noticed when it is obvious or asked about. I want my love of Jesus to be noticed easily when around me. I also want to be as proud and matter of fact about Jesus as Karson was his freckle..."I take it everywhere I go."

Hebrews 13:5 "Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Faith Like a Child

Just a couple of weeks ago, we found ourselves in a hotel, which really means we were in the pool past Karson's bedtime helping him learn how to swim and trying to catch him when he spontaneously jumped in. I am amazed at his courage, is this the same kid that 2 summers ago wouldn't jump in? Well it was just Karson and I in the pool and as I said, he enjoys jumping in, I always have to remind him to wait until I am looking and near him so I've taught him to count before he jumps. This gives me at least 1.5 seconds to get to him where he is. He jumps and trusts...oh, I don't think he knows he is trusting, but he's not at all worried or concerned with making sure I will catch him. He just jumps! He jumps without hesitation, he jumps with gusto, he jumps to make a big splash...yet, never asks before he jumps, "Are you going to catch me this time mommy?" Why? Because I have always caught him, I have always been there when he needed to be caught. What faith he has in me as his mommy. He trusts without question. Do I have that kind of faith in my Father? Do I have the faith to jump and believe that I will always be caught without asking, "Daddy will you catch me this time?" I should because I have always been caught when I jump in faith. History proves that God will catch me. History and relationship. Jesus once said to the disciples when they couldn't drive out a demon..."it is because of your little faith, for I assure you: if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain to move and it will move. Nothing will be impossible." (Matt. 17:20) I want to move mountains with my faith, I want to jump without hesitation, without question, without fear...

Before we got out of the pool, Karson went to the shallow step and proclaimed, "I'm going to walk on water." He put his foot confidently on top of the water and it sank, he went under. He came back up truly surprised and said, "oh, I can't" I wonder if he really thought he could, I wonder if he really thought he could and it would have brought glory to God, maybe he would have walked on water. He had already shown faith, and taught me much, so maybe walking on water wasn't necessary.

Who do you Imitate?

Being the mom of a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old, I have observed that whatever the 4 yr. old does the 2 yr. old inevitably thinks she can do too. She runs with gusto after a tall hill, or mounts up on a see saw or the back of a ride on truck, believing that she too can do it, solely based on the fact that he can do it. If Karson can, Karis can, or she will attempt it without reservation. Does she think that if he makes a choice to do something that it is a good choice, that it is obedient, that it is safe? Does she ponder what the consequences will be? Does she make a well thought out decision based on research and others' opinion? While this would be necessary in lots of adult life decisions, it doesn't occur to her in her 2 yr. old decision making skills. If Karson is going down a tall slide, she wants to...if Karson makes a silly face or silly noise, she mimics him exactly, if Karson is banging his cup on the table, she does too...How do I wield such influence as a 4 yr. old has on a 2 yr. old? How can I look at my kids and tell them, like Paul said in the Bible, do as I do? Am I making choices and decisions that model loving Jesus in a way that I can say to my kids, imitate me, copy me, do as I am doing? I want to be that kind of mommy, that can of person in love with my Savior so that I can say to my kids..."therefore, I urge you to imitate me," (1 Corinthians 4:16)

"Be imitators or God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loeved us and gave himself up for us..." (Ephesians 5:1-2)