I'm finally learning something that many of you probably all ready know.  What can I say, sometimes it takes me a while!!

There are a lot of 'little' things in my life that the Lord has been speaking to me about.  I've spent quite some time now thinking "Yeah, I know I really need to_________.  I"ve really got to try to take care of that~or make that change~or whatever the case may be.

I keep telling my self I shouldn't put things off, etc.  What God is showing me is that this is not JUST laziness, or JUST procrastination, or JUST a 'to do list' that's too long.  What it is, is disobedience, pure and simple.

God has been dealing with me about cutting back even more on the time our kids spend watching tv, about allowing them to do other things before their chores and school work, etc.

Well, late last night, as I sat alone in the quiet reading my Bible and praying, I finally came to the realization that a lot of the battles I fight every day are battles of my own making.  There are issues that I struggle with my children over because I"ve not trained them properly up to this point.  I realized something else too~disobeying God is JUST NOT WORTH IT!!!

So, I gathered all the kids around me on the couch today.  I told them that I felt that the way we all (including me) had been slack in our chores and school work was not pleasing to the Lord, and that we were all( again, me included) allowing the tv to eat up too much of our time.

To my (happy) surprise, I didn't get any argument from the kids about any of this!  They all agreed with me that we all want to do what is most pleasing to the Lord.  So, after we talked, everyone went without complaint, got dressed, and did their "to do" lists.  These include chores like making the beds, helping me dust, vacuum, etc.

Then, we were ready to start our academics for the day.  We went over everyone's AWANA material,  did Alex's reading Lesson and reviewed the additon tables 1-5 with her, then went over the multiplication tables 1-5 with Rachel, had her do some reading aloud, then I fixed them lunch, and I read a chapter from "Constance" while they ate.  The book brought up some great discussion of the Pilgrims and how they lived.

Each child is allowed to pick one 30 minute show each day.  Anything I 'assign' them to watch for school does not count toward this time.  For example, Sunday night, we will be watching "Desperate Crossing", a special about the Mayflower on the History Channel.  This doesn't count as their 'pick'.  Oh, and we decided that when he's home on Saturdays and Sundays, DADDY gets to do all the tv choosing! :)

I see a difference in my kids all ready.  They are playing more physically active games, and their attitudes toward each other are MUCH improved!!

This is nothing that I have done.  This is the grace of God in evidence, and for that, I am so very, very thankful.

Blessings,

Mom23munchkins

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Posted by growingingrace