I Will....with God's help.

A good friend, whose parenting is one I admire and aspire to, told me how she takes her 5th grade  son out to lunch on Fridays.  My reaction was "You can do that?" So much of the time I feel like my kids are part of a 'system' I have no control over.  Lisa answered a resounding, "You are the parent, the child is yours...you make the decision".  What wise words those were!  

SO, I decided to follow her lead.  I told my daughter, Katie, to call me when she got to school this morning and tell me what time her lunch period is.  I knew asking her to do this was a tall order.  She is literally scared to death of the telephone and in front of her classmates....that's even worse.  She answered that she would just eat at school.  At that moment, I had a choice to make.  I could say, "Okay, your choice" and walk out of the room.  I could also take this opportunity to  make this moment a 'teachable' moment.  As a teacher, we always had to think of what the 'currency' or 'kid buy in' would be in order to plan effective behavior management.  I always had a problem with this concept...mainly because I have always the 'currency' is our heart....but another story in itself.  

I decided to use it as a teachable moment.  If you know my daughter you will know that what she treasures most ( her currency)  is her bible, and this little cross she carries with her...always.  I have to be honest, and humble, when I say sometimes her honest sense of God in her life worries me.  When will her faith test her and will she be strong enough to stand by her beliefs?

I told Katie, "You know that little cross that you love so much?  Do you think that if you hold on to that and ask Mr. O if you can call home...would that help you?"  I really did not know what her answer would be.  She looked up, smiled at me and said, "Yes!".  This little 8 year old --that would rather miss lunch with her mom or a play date to avoid a dreaded use of the phone....just answered, "Sure, I can do that...with God's help".

At that moment....I was taught a lesson.  What would my life be like if I said "Yes!...with God's help".  What could I accomplish?  Who could I help?  What difference in this world would I have the strength to conquer?  I was also reminded that when this little girl of mine was baptised I stood before Pastor Jack and answered his question of "Will you we raise this little child entrusted to you  to know God, to love God and to serve God?"   I answered,"I will...with God's help".  This morning in her room.....I followed through with that promise....with God's help.  

 

I Will....with God's help....down  'Love Ave.'