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(I have to say at the outset of this post that I am limiting my observations to my teens only today and that this is not at all to be taken to mean that the younger ones are in any way remiss in these areas!!) I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking with the Lord! Madeline, Alexandra and Abigail have all matured much in the past year and are actively seeking opportunities to serve and to love at home first, then in the community. I am so blessed at the daily Narnia readings around here! I wish you could see them. It is truly the highlight of the day for the llittle ones. Madeline wonderfully and expressively reads while Alexandra "acts" the drama out on the coffee table, using "props" - stuffed animals, dolls and other toys. Alexandra takes some delightful liberties with the text, bringing peals of laughter from the rest of the children. They all love these times and the little ones beg for their Narnia time over and over throught out the day! On Thursdays, Madeline leads G.R.O.M.I.T. (Good Reflections on Making It Terrific - "It" being "our life together" as siblings). This is a Bible Study focusing on their relationships. Right now they are going through the book, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends. Someone usually spends their own money to get a GROMIT treat to share. Wow. Abigail checks with me throught out the day to find out what kind of help I might need and then cheerfully (and I can't emphasize that word enough!!) follows through. Alexandra has appointed herself my shopping helper to ease my work and is very insistent at keeping me from any exertion. Madeline is more and more my "go-to" helper in cooking, leading and cleaning. She plans to learn how to drive this summer even though she doesn't really want to. But she does want to be able to ease some of my work load and run errands for me. These are only a very few examples of the selflessness that I am seeing in my teens this year. I am very grateful for their help but, much more than that, I am overjoyed at the way that they are cultivating relationships with one another and especially with the younger ones. They are not only forging strong bonds with them but they are setting amazing examples for them!! And they, too, are more and more reaching out in love also, and seeking the chance to serve each other and me. And the best part of it all is that they seem to be growing in the Lord and serving in their family in response to His love and His work in their hearts. For it is He that is at work in us to will and to do His good pleasure! And as thankful as I am to the girls, I kneel before my Maker Who has wrought such good in our family. He loved us before the beginning of the world and has lavished undeserved blessings on us!! It is He only Who deserves the praise and credit for all of this. I find myself groping for words to express the fulness of my heart right now. With Mother's Day right around the corner, I feel that my gifts live with me every day! |
In an age when "normal" teens don't want to even be seen with their parents, when they "hate" their siblings, when Self reigns supreme in the hearts of American teenagers, I have to publicly rejoice at what the Lord is doing in, for and through my teens!!
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Posted by Abigail
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