little sponges

 I absolutely have the most beautiful, hilariously funny, smartest children ever! I am always so shocked and amazed by the words that come out of there mouths. I'm constantly thinking "Where do they get this stuff, who taught them that?! HaHa. One day, a few months back my 5 year old son was telling me about a little boy who had made a mean face toward him at church. I asked him well what did you do about it and nonchalantly he shrugs his shoulders and says "I just let God handle it". I could not have been more proud. They are truly my pride and joy and I just want to protect them from every horrible, mean, evil thing in the world forever.

 I remember when I was in my teens thinking that I would be a little more "free-er" with my kids. I remember thinking does it really matter what music they listen to or what movies they watch? Well fast forward to 2011 and I'm thinking YES! it does matter! Have you heard the crud that is out there?! I mean seriously, anything goes these days.  Don't get me wrong, we like to jam out to a little Selena Gomez or Justin Bieber in the car from time to time. But then we also enjoy listening to some Jesus Culture or Tenth Avenue North just as much. These kids are just like little sponges soaking up everything they hear and see... If I had it my way I would just lock them up and never let them out. I just want to guard them from every bad influence. But I know thats just not realistic.

 The other day my 7 (and a half) yr old daughter was telling me about some stuff she heard at school from fellow classmates. Stuff they shouldn't be worrying about or discussing. Anyway, I let her finish telling me about their little discussion and and in the end I found out that her and the other classmates THANKFULLY didn't even know what they were talking about. Whew! dodged a bullet there!.... The older they get the harder it is for me to shield them from the craziness of this world.  But I realize I do have the ability to equip them with the tools and knowledge they need to survive. I have the ability to build them up so when they face challenges they know how to handle them.

 To me it seems they are growing up so fast and I just want to keep them little and innocent, but deep down I know if I do they will never blossom into the extraordinary people they are meant to be. And it's not like I can REALLY keep them little forever anyway... right?

 Parenting is something I am always learning more and more about every single day. Every move I make, every word I say, every thing I do is being mirrored by those two little people.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is older he will not depart from it. - Prov. 22:6