My Faith and Joy… and Boys!

When did they start looking so OLD?  Maybe it’s because they’re driving a “car”…

After hearing some motivating ministry a while ago, Jim and I decided that we wanted to read the Proverbs on a continual basis with the kids.  They’re obviously too young to grasp much of the truths therein, but we believe that the more often the kids are exposed to the truth, the deeper their comprehension, and Lord willing, acceptance of the truth will be.  So I’ve been trying to read a few verses at breakfast time with them, pulling out one verse or a partial verse in particular for the kids to repeat and elaborate upon.  Some of the verses the girls find entertaining (“Go to the ant, o sluggard, consider her ways and be wise…” Prov 6:6), and some stick in their heads better than others (“Fools despise wisdom and instruction” Prov 1:7).  I keep coming back to Proverb’s central theme of wisdom, and I’ve tried to impress upon the kids how important wisdom is.  According to the Scriptures, wisdom is a wonderful thing – it’s “better than jewels.”  It comes from above – “For the Lord gives wisdom.”  It is a gradual learning process that involves spiritual maturity – “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  It is something we ought to yearn for – “make your ear attentive to wisdom”, something we ought to love, and it goes well for us when we do – “He who loves wisdom makes his father glad”  and “blessed is he who finds wisdom.”  I don’t know if my children will ever get wisdom as it is described in the Scriptures, wisdom that comes from depending on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and studying and applying His Word.  I can’t make them wise – that is a gift from the Lord, just as is salvation from the punishment for our sins.  I can only pray daily, hourly, that the Lord will give me wisdom in knowing how to train them up in the way they should go (Prov 22:6).

I’ve been thinking a lot about wisdom lately, as I’ve spent a lot of time with our niece Alli these last few weeks.  She’s 17 years old and will be entering her senior year of high school this fall.  She’s at an age where most kids don’t display much wisdom.  In my experience, most kids her age are inwardly-focused, too wrapped up in their own melodramas to have any greater perspective on life.  They are trudging through high school, only trying to get out in one piece.  They strive hard to surround themselves with other similarly myopic teens, and consequently they can’t transcend the echo chamber of hormones and anxiety. 

But Alli isn’t like that.  She earnestly, and eagerly, seeks out the wisdom of others.  She consults her parents, grandparents, elders in her assembly, and gets their take on things before proceeding with her decisions.  She understands that she doesn’t know everything.  She appreciates the spiritual advice of older Christians.  She chooses to spend time with her family and with fellow saints, rather than just the kids from school.  She is learning that her parents know what they are talking about.  She recognizes that, even when she doesn’t agree with her parents’ decisions, that they’re doing what’s best for her, which makes the sometimes-bitter pills of discipline and instruction easier to swallow.  She is working out the principles laid out in Proverbs, that “when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge,” and that one should “apply your heart to instruction.” She’s not a fool who despises wisdom – she’s a Godly young woman who seeks after it.  I’m thankful that I have her as an example to my own children.  

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6).   

Happy 4th of July!  I hope your holiday was awe-inspiring!

Speaking of cousins, I got to spend time with one of mine this past weekend!  My cousin Sarah came down from Massachusetts with her husband and son (and son-to-be!) on Saturday to go boating with us.  I was so thankful they made the drive, and so happy we got to be with them!  It was wonderful to see their son playing with our kids, just like Sarah and I played together when we were young.  Here’s to the next generation of family!   

One thing that I found out very quickly when I joined Jim’s family was that their vacations are anything but relaxing!  They pack so much into a week at the Jersey shore that I practically need a vacation from my vacation when we return home.  But now that I’ve gone every summer since 2002 (except the one when I was on hospital bed rest with the twins), I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I love every bit of the trip, from the frantic packing of sand toys and towels, to the late night runs for Ocean City coffee and soft pretzels, to the early morning walks to Bashful Banana for banana whips, to the bike riding for Brown’s donuts and afternoon shower to rinse the sand from our burned bodies before we hit the boardwalk for Hula Grill dinners.  And I love watching our children fall in love with the spot as well.  It really is as good as it gets from a kid’s perspective, especially when you throw in mini-golf, a water park, endless arcades, and more family and friends than you can fit in a wide-angle lens! 

Here’s a few of the highlights of our busy activities these year:

A surrey ride to breakfast, powered by none other than Jim and Jon:

The girls got their caricatures drawn as a wonderful surprise gift for me:

The kids flying kites for the first time ever:

Alli and Becky waiting patiently for our Hawaiian Chicken at Hula Grill:

The girls all gussied up before an evening walk to the amusement park:

A wild and crazy game of miniature golf with the four big kids, with each one perfecting their individualized swing and then shouting, “I got a hole in one!!!” every time they threw/dropped/rolled/kicked the ball into the hole:

We joined some of our family and friends at a local basketball court for some ball play:

Here were a few of the enthusiastic cheerleaders:

Bike riding for donuts:

A view of my early morning stroller walk with Danny, since he decided to start every day of the vacation around 5:30am:

Splashing in the puddles with cousins:

Posing at the water park on a beautiful sunny day:

How many days until we can go back? 🙂