Good stuff

As I was saying goodnight to Avery tonight, she said to me, "Mom, I think God must be the best artist ever." Of course I agreed, but I wanted to know where that was coming from. After I asked, she said, "Because He made us symmetrical." She went on to tell me that they had learned to draw clowns in art class today and talked about how our bodies are symmetrical. Now, were she in a Christian school, I'm sure the teacher would have taken the opportunity to discuss God's great design. However, she is in a public school and I know God wasn't discussed. But that didn't stop my girl! She found her own Biblical Integration (one of those terms from my elementary education days in college when I had to add that element to every lesson plan). She immediately thought of God's amazing artistry in creating us symmetrical.

This is one of those moments in which I'm reminded that God's will always prevails. He is growing and teaching my children even when I'm not present and even when the teacher has no idea she is being used to draw my daughter into a deeper understanding of her Creator. Good stuff :)

Wow, what do you say to that?

Ok, I had no good reason to have a short fuse today, other than being just plain tired. The girls were being fine, but I was just ready for them to get to bed already! So, when I asked Avery for about the millionth time to stop goofing off and put on her pajamas and she didn't do it, I guess I started to sound a bit "frustrated". Please give me some credit - I sounded very nice and patient for the first 999,999 times. Then Avery started to complain that "it wasn't fair." When I probed her in my previously-mentioned "frustrated" tone about what she meant, she said, "It's not fair that you get to lose your temper and we don't." Bam. There you have it. I had no answer for that. I simply admitted that it wasn't fair and I am not allowed to lose my temper either. I apologized to her and asked for her forgiveness. She graciously forgave me and all was forgotten. One thing I notice about my kids is that they so quickly forget my infractions and are ready to hug and love all over again. I guess I still have some growing to do with the whole patience thing. Thank you, Lord, for the difficult reminder to make sure I'm setting a good example to my kids and holding myself accountable to the same standard I hold them to.

Another Avery Observation

Avery and I were watching "Prince of Egypt", which is a movie VERY loosely based on the Biblical account of Moses and the Israelites' flight from Egypt. As she's observing their construction of the pyramids and statues of their gods, she says, "How can those be their gods if they have to build them? It's just made of brick and it doesn't even answer your prayers or save you from your sins."

Yep! That's the thoughts from my five year old. As I write this, though, I'm also compelled to consider whether I have built up any gods before Him. I don't believe so at the moment, but I know I have been guilty of having idols. I've been known to make an idol of trying to be thin, of pleasing others through good works, of trying to keep a clean home, of trusting in financial security over God's always sufficient provision. I'm sure I could add more to the list. None of those things can hear or answer my prayers and they CERTAINLY cannot save me from my sins. I'm so thankful to my mighty God Who does all that and so much more. And I'm extremely thankful for my sweet daughter who, with her innocent observations, encourages me to put my trust solely in Him.