Potato Prints and Pride Stompers

Let me start out this post by saying it was one of those days. You know the kind. One minute you feel like you are doing a pretty good job at this mom thing. You did a great art project with the kids, you let them play with playdough, or you cooked them a really fantastic meal that they eagerly devoured (How often does that happen?). Then, you find yourself with paint splattered everywhere, playdough ground into the carpet, or mud tracks on the floor you just cleaned. You hear the little one screaming because the bigger one pushed him down, or you've had to repeat yourself three times because they are chosing not to follow directions immediately. Ugh...it was one of those days for me. I tried to ignore the mud so the boys could have fun outside. I got out the paint so my oldest could do a fun craft. I even took a meal to a friend. But, I yelled...at my boys...both boys...and boy, did I yell. I didn't feel like such a great mom after that. In fact, I wanted to cry. I felt like a horrible mom.

After we all calmed down and were in the car, I apologized for yelling and told Graham that it wasn't right what I did. I told him that God still loves me, and I can pray to Him, tell Him I am sorry, and He will forgive me. Graham responded, "Do it right now, Mommy." So, I did. Aloud. Graham heard. And that is the beauty of the Gospel. God loves and forgives, and my son saw an example of that in his three-year-old world.

A wise woman spoke today at my church's Bible study about Gospel Parenting. She said living out the Gospel in front of our children is the most important thing we can do for them. It's the main thing...the one thing. Teaching our children the Gospel-our unworthiness meets His grace and we are forgiven and accepted is the One Thing that I am to be doing for the next 18 plus years. Better than creative crafts, clean houses, well-behaved children is the truth of the Gospel being played out in front of my kids. I want to live out the Gospel in front of my boys. I want to give myself grace when I mess up because God gives me His grace. I want to tell them I'm sorry, and I want them to see how we can approach the throne of Grace with confidence that He will forgive.

Graham knows he doesn't have a perfect mom. I want him to know he has an amazing Father.

after an art project-potato prints