Training and the Work of Motherhood

My heart is full to overflowing with the events in our lives the past two days. I will tell more about what we are up to today at a later time. But yesterday we had the privilege of dedicating these two precious ones at church...

"...we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

His power, and the wonders He has done.

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,

which He commanded our forefathers to each their children,

so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,

and they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds

but would keep His commands."

Psalm 78:4-7

I have never loved my children more than yesterday. It was such a sweet day. Partly because it was Mother's Day. Partly because of the dedication. And partly because I wanted to love on them all I could, even with everything we had going on, before the events of today and tomorrow transpired.

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So while it was sweet, it was not the most relaxing Mother's Day of all time. And it got me thinking about a conversation I had with my friend Julie recently about how this seems to be a season of training. So much about having little ones is training and teaching. Training them in behavior, but also teaching them God's heart behind the behavior. It's instilling truth that we believe will take root and flourish into their own belief and a harvest of righteousness.

And there is nothing I would rather do than invest in the hearts of our children.

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You all know that back in the fall when the babies were still only a few months old, my mother began helping Silas memorize scripture. After she left, I kept up what he had learned but felt compelled to have a more tangible and organized way to help him memorize. I prayed and watched what things he really liked and came up with the simplest thing. But it works and he loves it.

Almost every week he and I sit down together and type up a new verse. It is amazing what he has been able to learn! I love that this taps into his love of literacy, promotes his reading of sight words, and is building a foundation for Him to love the Scripture. I hope to develop a tool like this that is unique for each of our children, that will fit their personalities, interests, and strengths.

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I am humbly thankful that the beginning stages of the Lord training me in the work of motherhood is happening while these three are little. Because they won't remember. Isn't He good? It's how He planned it.

Of course you know it doesn't always happen this way, but perhaps some of our "training" about sharing has been taking hold in Silas' heart. Shane called me in to the Sim and Lieren's room the other day to witness Silas "sharing" with Lieren!

Ha! Like I said, never loved them more.