By: Patti Monk
Some days, all things feel good. Kids are happy and loving. We say thank you and happily pray together. We read our devotional and some kids have a favorite verse to share. Everyone likes what’s for dinner. We are kind. We say encouraging things, remember to chew with our mouths closed, and everyone goes to bed on time. The world, in our little home, feels peaceful. But, in reality, there are other days that don’t make the Facebook highlight reel and definitely are not on Instagram. The days when we are grumpy or sad. Someone is crying and it’s someone else’s fault. Kids are in timeout. Chores don’t happen. Dishes are left on the table and almost everyone says “ewww, I don’t like that” at dinner (even though last week it was their favorite). Then there are other days that pass by, not really marked at all.
The beautiful thing about all these days put together is that life is happening and a family is grown in love from all sorts of backgrounds and places. We learn that love isn’t measured by how much we like dinner, if we have the devotional ready, or if there is a giant mess in the kitchen. Love isn’t based on everything feeling perfect or even happy at any given moment. Love isn’t measured by the moments that pass by but by the hearts that are in it. It’s love that sustains us all through the rotten days, the time outs and the tantrums. Love stays when your heart hurts and life is broken and ugly. Love is still there after those moments you’d rather forget. We are learning to be brave when we are shy or scared. To be confident when we feel intimidated. To take a deep breath and pray when we are angry. We are learning because that is what family is for. To love. To teach. To grow. To train up our children in the way they should go so that when they are old they won’t depart from it because one day they will be old and then the fruit will benefit so many! We love because He first loved us and His love is strong and powerful. It heals and grows a family and makes something beautiful out of what once was a broken mess.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103: 13-14