The Legend of Thousand Hills Farm

Being Thankful for a Naughty Baby

This may seem like an odd thing to be thankful for!  However, it's all about perspective.

Our family has been praying for Baby Noah (see button to the right), and recently his Mama, Kate, wrote that she wished she could blog about all the things that Noah is getting into ~ pulling pots and pans out of the cupboard, making messes, etc.  But, instead she "gets" to blog about medical procedures and critical health issues.

Josiah is a *very* active almost 16 months!  He is into EVERYTHING!    If it's within his reach, or he can get a stool up to it, he's into it.  He loves the tracking ball on the computer mouse (can't tell you how many times that has disappeared), the phone, board games, the camera, knives off the kitchen counter, anything with liquid in it (in a container you can spill of course), and most recently he has learned to work the water filter, so there is *always* water on my kitchen floor!  It seems like most days I spend chasing him around, telling him, "No."  "Josiah, get down."  "Josiah, do I need to spank you?" (He has gotten very adept at re-directing himself at *that* question! LOL)  And, cleaning up whatever he has gotten into.

I must admit, I have gotten to the point of frustration several times, and just sent him off with an older sibling (let *them* deal with him!).  However, ever since reading Kate's post the other day, I have found myself getting after him and discipling (after all, he *does* need to be obedient), but also picking him up and holding him and thanking God that my son is healthy enough to be naughty.  Yes, I get tired of not getting much done but follow baby and clean up, but in reality, this is a short season, soon he'll be helping more than hindering, and before I know it, he'll be grown and gone.  Kate's post reminded me what a blessing it is to have a healthy child (children), and that I need to be thankful even in the little things that would ordinarily be frustrating.

God has a plan and a purpose for each of us.  Our strength is in choosing joy ~ finding the things to be thankful for ~ even if it's just that our God is praiseworthy!  So, I am thankful for a baby who is healthy enough to be a problem , and he may get a few more hugs because of it.  Thank you Kate, for a little perspective.

I am so there...

8:57 PM, Oct. 2, 2007 .. Posted by gmisch

I could have written that description of Timmy! Just as I was reading it, he climbed up on a stool and was playing with a plastic spoon in a mostly eaten bowl of chili on the counter...

I too rejoice in the fact that my little ones are healthy for the most part, and that my daughter's issues are easily dealt with now, and not life threatening.

Thanks for the reminder.

Grace in Alaska