Diagnosis: The Human Condition

It was a rough trip to church yesterday.  Cheese slices were distributed to two hungry boys who promptly started complaining that the cheese slices weren’t big enough.  A new spring coat was handed to a third boy who started throwing a crying tantrum over not liking new coat and wanting to wear his sweatshirt instead.  My husband and I were left looking at one another and wondering what we did wrong in our parenting to end up with this ungrateful brood of children.  My heart hurt as we walked into church and I looked at these beautiful little boys who had exhibited such ugly hearts.  

I was sitting quietly, letting my own heart rest and thinking up parenting tactics, when I realized how God must feel when I exhibit ugly behavior (which is hardly ever….definitely not that morning in response to my children’s ugly behavior!?)  He surely feels disappointment, but at the same time unconditional love for me.  And He has the bonus of being omnipotent.  He knows what I’ll do before I do it….He knows how I’ll live my life before I live it.  Doesn’t that put a twist on parenting?  Darin and I lay in bed many nights wondering where our children’s lives will lead.  What type of men they will be?  What type of career they will have?  If they will always awaken in the middle of the night and need something?  It was sobering and encouraging at the same time to realize the deepness of God’s love for each of us.  He loves us knowing our lifetime of mistakes and downfalls, while I was struggling with ten minutes worth of my children’s mistakes.

Of course the moment culminated in the perfect song with the chorus “It’s Your breath in our lungs so we pour out our praise”.  Thank you God for reminding me that my children are only suffering from the human condition, and that you love them anyway.  Thank you for reminding me that you have given me everything I need, including the very breath in my lungs.  And may I use that breath to praise you for your love and in turn show that love to those naughty little boys.  Amen.

Learning to be content as Princess Leia

Yesterday I googled “How to get silly putty out of clothing” and was somewhat shocked (and relieved) when there was an answer!  I’ve found the perfect concoction of chemicals that cleans blood out of carpeting.  Last week I created a voucher for the tooth fairy in place of the two teeth my five-year-old lost and swallowed in a WWF-style wrestling match with his brother.  If there was coursework for mothering boys, I would have a PhD.  So why do I not feel satisfied and find myself longing for a girl?  I’ve gone so far as to jokingly badger my husband about adopting a girl for the last several months.

I’ve been smugly resting in my contentedness.  I don’t need a newer car, better house, more stylish clothing…..I just need a girl!  What!?  Just when I think that I’ve put my contentment issues behind me, it rears its ugly head.  My longing for a girl has coincided with the idea of contentment presenting itself in various ways.  God never ceases to provide curriculum to school me in whatever I’m struggling with.  My book club picked a book on contentment, the sermon series at church is about being satisfied, and just yesterday New Kids On The Block was on T.V. 

Did I lose you?  Are you wondering how NKOTB has anything to do with God or contentment?  It just so happens that I was the New Kids’ #1 fan.  That’s right....my fourth-grade self was beyond obsessed.  I had posters, clothing, jewelry, dolls, not to mention the cassette tapes.  Everyone knew I was betrothed to Joey McIntyre.  An epic girl fight of razor sharp words and cold shoulders broke out when a classmate claimed that SHE was going to marry Joey.  As if!  

Seeing the now middle-aged group performing brought back these memories, and made me realize that little has changed in the world of girls. There is no way I could handle the Frozen frenzy….let alone the boy band of the year.  My life of superheroes and stain removal started looking pretty good.  And that longing for a little girl is back in check.  Being a mother of boys is the path God chose for me.  It’s far from easy, doesn’t offer a moment of boredom, and has me cast in the permanent role of Princess Leia.  How could I long for anything more?

“I’m not saying this because I’m in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Phillipians 4:11

 Princess Leia has nothing to fear....her Storm Troopers are always near!

A Tribute to the Birthday Girl

The Proverbs 31 woman.  Have you heard of her?  Have you met her?  I am blessed to have her as a grandmother, and to be one of many celebrating her 93^rd birthday.  Like the woman described in Proverbs 31, Clara Whattoff is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother of noble character.  She is certainly worth far more than rubies, her husband lacks nothing.  She gets up in the dark and provides food for her family (over 26,000 bowls of oatmeal).  She considered a field (and farmhouse, and apartment in Story City) and bought it.  She is clothed in fine linens (clothing has always been her one downfallJ) and her husband is respected.  She is clothed with strength and dignity, and can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the affairs of her household and never eats the bread of idleness (though she can’t turn down a kringla).  Her children call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  “Your grandma is a mighty fine cook!  She only had seven children; don’t you think she should have a few more?”  

The noblest part of Grandma’s character is her love.  She lives in a way that words aren’t necessary to know her faith.  She lives the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love:  She is patient and kind.  She doesn’t envy or boast.  She is not rude or self-seeking, does not easily anger, and keeps no record of wrongs.  She always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres.  She has always shared her love with strangers, one time even preparing a meal for the road workers in front of her house.  Anyone arriving at mealtime has always been invited to stay, even if that means giving her portion to the unexpected guest.  She has a gift for showering anyone in her presence with God’s love. 

My dear Grandmother has much to celebrate this year.  She has a husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that love her beyond words.  Each of us has been a beneficiary of her love.  I spend each day attempting to emulate her…by loving pretty things, by laughing, by loving my family well, and most of all by loving the Lord.  

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (Proverbs 31:30-31) 

The Year of the Bolthouse Boys (on skis:-)

My husband and I love to ski.  Our relationship was cemented atop a mountain, staring down a black diamond chute.  Darin released his bindings, got down on one knee, and pulled out a diamond of his own.  We honeymooned in Europe, dragging our gear for a day of spring skiing in the Alps.  Our first winter in Colorado was exciting and difficult.  We had a two-year-old and two babies, but were determined to go on frequent “ski dates”.  

The years have passed quickly.  Now we have a 5-year-old and two 3-year-olds.  We want to pass our love of skiing on to them, so we’ve declared this ski season the “Year for the Bolthouse Boys”.  What better way to christen such a year than with an outing to the mountain?  We set out with the perfect plan:  a half-day lesson for Kenny, which would give my husband and me a chance to work with our youngest two on the bunny hill.  

It all went perfectly, and I had the joy of skiing with our fearless Jacob.  Our first run consisted of him holding onto my leg and letting his ski edge rest against mine.  He became braver on the second run and skied beside me while holding onto my ski pole.  After an hour, he was ready to fly solo for short bits of the hill, but still needed my guidance for the steep part at the bottom and getting on and off the lift.  

I was beside Jacob every moment.  He could rest in the knowledge that if he fell down, I would help him up.  This knowledge allowed Jacob’s heart and mind to be at peace, and allowed him to live up to his full, albeit three-year-old potential on the mountain.  I was left sore (bending over a child and skiing for 2 hours would put any yoga class to shame), and wondering at the object lesson our day.  God is with me in every moment and knows me better than even my husband or parents.  If I allow it, He will guide me through each day.  And this knowledge enables me to live up to my full, knocking-on-forty’s-door potential.  

“Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”  Psalm 139:7-10