I'm doing my best to train them up in the Lord and instill character and responsibility. They don't have many chores but every morning before breakfast they are to make their beds, feed the dog, and empty (most of) the dishwasher. Do I NEED them to do these things? No. But, its part of being a Barrett, part of being a part of this family, we all chip in and do our jobs. Does the Lord NEED us to do anything for Him either. No. Again, we get to be part of the family and chip in.
Most mornings it can be a battle. Whining. Complaining. Telling me how hungry they are. And how long their simple chores are taking to complete.
In my perfect world, they would get up and do these things without being asked. I don't live in my perfect world. I'm not perfect. These boys do a lot of things a lot of days great, but this morning not so much.
I decided to show them what it would be like if I just didn't want to do my job.
And, so this morning (for the first time ever) I didn't make them breakfast. No one made them breakfast.
I made eggs and toast and a green smoothie for myself (after finishing up emptying the dishwasher myself) and they watched.
Jared cried. And said I was being a "bad mommy". (He's never said anything like that before). And implored me to make him food because he was a kid and he didn't know how to do it. I told him he was welcome to get fruit and a yogurt and cut a piece of toast for himself. He didn't want to. He wanted ME to do it for him. After sobbing and being so sad, he got mad. He said he wasn't going to talk to me anymore. I'm not going to lie, it did hurt my feelings.
Will was either obstinate or oblivious (you pick) and happily got his own yogurt and strawberries. I'm pretty sure he does these things to bug his brother. I'm not sure how to get through to him.
We had some long talks about how we all need to do our jobs, do our part, even when we don't want to (a lesson I am learning daily!).
Did it work? Don't know.
Was it hard? Oh man. So hard. I HATE making my little man upset.
I guess the test will be tomorrow morning, when, yet again, they are required to make their beds and empty the dishwasher.
It's now 10:30am and the boys have been playing in their room for some time now. Jared just came in to ask when I would be serving lunch. :-)
I pray that my boys would be hard workers. Doing things properly because they need to be done, regardless of whether or not they want to do them. I see grown man-boys who are afraid to work, immature and unwilling to do anything they don't want to do. And I want more for my sons. I pray that I would have a servant's heart, as well, as I do the same small and thankless tasks over and again day after day. That I would set a good example and work on improving MY character (Lord knows I need improvement!).
I was inspired by a great quote from Dr. Wilson Benton in a message on covenantal families I listened to while doing my work on Monday. As he exhorted me to press on in training my children through the speakers on my computer, I heard him say that,
"Parenthood is not a right we claim, but it is a privilege we enjoy only by the goodness and grace and love of our Heavenly Father ... let your children know that they are an answer to prayer ... you ought to treat them as though they are an answer to prayer (even if you didn't know it at the time)."
I love that. And I love the look on their faces when I look into their eyes and tell them by name that "You (Jared) and You (Will) are an answer to prayer".
"I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request."
NLT 1 Samuel 1:27
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