Parenting is never a BORED-game

"But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23 -(NIV)

Being a mom, is like playing a board game somedays. I have all the pieces (kids in this case) lined up and a strategy: survive the day and have fun while doing it. But along the way, there are obstacles that keep me from finishing (ketchup on the carpet, playdoh in the toilet, fire in the toaster oven) and a whole lot of guessing takes place in a 24 hour period (Will the kids wake up at 6am or treat us to sleeping in til 7:30? Will Lillie want me to hold her all day or will she test the independence waters and insist her ballet tutu and Cinderella wig look good for our trip to the grocery store? Will Parker fall off his bike and get a small scrape or an all out bloody gash while trying to imitate Spiderman diving off the deck?

Back in January, out of the blue I was laying in bed one night and the above verse from Galations came to mind and would not leave my mind. Then, 2 weeks later the kids came home from church having spent the morning talking about the Fruits of the Spirit. About a month later, I was reading a parenting book and the whole premise of the book was The Fruits of the Spirit as it relates to raising children. Then, just last night my sister and I were out running and she tells me that she has really needed the verse at work and has been reciting it to herself throughout the day. Coincidence? Probably not. I am pretty sure, just like with many messages, God has chosen to speak to me using a variety of vehicles. I LOVE when He does that! Sometimes I have to struggle to hear His voice and figure where He is leading me, and other times it is so blatantly obvious. I don't mind the challenge when it arises but with preschoolers, everything is a game and so much requires guessing and logic, that I appreciate the fact that God in His infinite wisdom and understanding, chose a less exhaustive method. I have felt so convicted lately about living out the Fruits of the Spirit and demonstrating what they look like to my kids. Everyday I see them playing out in their little lives and I am sooo grateful for the opportunity to spend each day with Parker and Lillie. Their physical growth is evident as they outgrow their clothes. Their emotional growth is evident in the more mature ways they handle situations. Their intellectual growth is evident in the way they are grasping tougher academic concepts. But most rewarding is the evidence of their spiritual growth. The kind ways they treat each other and their friends. The compassion they demonstrate when they see someone hurting. The sweet spontaneous prayers that come so easily to them.

My prayer is that this game of life is as rewarding for them as it is for Trev and myself and that when winning or losing they trust God for the outcome.