Aaron (3yo in 6 days!) has been showing a greater interest in praying this past week. He’s been asking to say the blessing before we eat.  Here is his first completely self-formulated prayer…

“Thank you for this food. Thank you for Madison (his friend), and Emmie and Mommy, and Gabe. Thank you for this food. Please help everybody not to be stuck. And thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.”

I especially liked his next prayer…

“Thank you for this food. Please help us to obey without complaining. Please help us to be like Jesus. *then he mumbled for about a minute and I couldn’t hear what he was saying*In Jesus name, Amen.”

I get discouraged sometimes at how my kids treat each other. But then don’t we as parents fail in this area too? Josh and I have been noticing with our boys, that there have been moments recently when they have been making obviously conscious attempts to treat each other kindly. Aaron wants to pray. Gabe asked forgivness for something of his own volition last night.  I have been wondering for quite sometime now whether God will ever bless the efforts Josh and I are putting forth to raise godly children. I am encouraged to know that He is. It is a slow process. But then, so is my own sanctification. It took me 17 1/2 years to have a conciousness of my sin and have godly repentance.  And I was raised in a very stable God-honoring Christian home.  I don’t know why I expect every administration of discipline to single-handedly regenerate my kids.  I need to trust the Holy Spirit to work in my kids’ hearts when it is time. And patiently do my mommy job in the mean time.