Daily Devotional

It is awfully quiet in here... Moving down the hall into the living room, I glance at the clock over the fireplace. I turn and behold my three-year-old daughter stands framed in the kitchen doorway like a little soldier holding up a butter knife with a huge glob of butter on it. It has spikey hairs sticking out of the butter.  She has a huge smile on her face, expecting I will praise her for a job well done.   At her feet is our mini dachshund, Ginger.  Her tail is between her legs as she looks up to me with eyes that seem to say, “Help!” Our dog is completely covered in soft butter—from the tip of her nose, down her floppy ears to the tip of her tail!!!!   EEK!!  Gently I take a step toward my daughter and say, “Give Mommy the butter knife sweetheart.”  She smiles, and quickly licks the hairy butter off before handing me the butter knife! YUK!

Scooping up the forlorn doggie, I quickly head to the bathroom to bathe buttered Ginger.
Working as quickly as I can, I wrap Ginger in a towel, tuck her under my arm and walk into the living room just in time to see my daughter shaking black pepper into our 60-gallon aquarium!
How did she get the pepper shaker?   I let my wet doggie loose in the house and rescue the pepper shaker from my daughter’s butter hand.  Moving quickly, I begin to scoop the black pepper floating on the top of the aquarium water, while thinking, “Will the fish die? My husband loves these fish!”  Working furiously, I get out as much as possible.

“Where’s my daughter?”  I run into the kitchen just in time to see my sweet little angel, scooping handfuls of flour into my kitchen drawers. I forgot to put the flour bag away!
The flour bag was just waiting on the table for her creativity!  My daughter is COVERED in flour and very busy “helping” Mommy with the flour!   She turns to me with a smile that could light up a city!

After bathing my sticky, happy girl, I glance at the clock and realize all this has happened in 45 minutes!  I carry my daughter to my bed and tuck her next to me for a nap. Oh, how I love this mischievous little girl---but she is SOOOOO much work!  At least next to me, she can’t get into anything?????    I “slept” with one eye open and my ears alert!
These verses rescued my attitude many a time my kids’ crazy behavior, baffled and exhausted me:

Philippians 4:6, 7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given to him.”

Raising children to love the Lord and glorify Him is Kingdom work! When times are tough, I meditate on this:

Psalm 127: 3 “Behold children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Don’t forget to laugh at the 45-minute marathons!

PARENTS:

• Write down the funny, crazy things your kids do and look forward to the many years of laughter as you remember back!
• Review the verses above and meditate on the role God has given you as a parent.  This is one of the most important jobs you have been given!
• Share with your friends your challenges in parenting.  You will discover that all parents are challenged by the complexities of raising kids!  You are not alone!
• Pray often for your kids and rely on God to give you wisdom and endurance!