A Miracle:

I was working in the kitchen when I heard Noa say very calmly, “That’s not kind.  Please stop. Please stop. Please stop.”  By the third or fourth plea, Martha stopped whatever she was doing, and they went back to playing happily together.

That’s my miracle.

It feels like we work a million times a day on having the self control to respond in a God-honoring way when people do things we don’t like.  This is one of those “I feel like a broken record” areas of parenting for me.  So, it is a miracle that in this one instance, all that practicing and encouraging stuck.  And it gives me hope that it will happen again.

So, if you’re a mama in these trenches of child-training, hang in there!  Be encouraged to keep doing what you know you have to, even if it feels like it is making no difference.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.“                                                      Galatians 6:9

This little incident was by no means a harvest, but it was a sprout that brought with it promise and hope.  And as I think of friends with preschoolers who may or may not read this, I am praying for moments of encouragement for you. (And the sinful part of me thinks, “other moms have these moments all the time…  only my kids could send me into such a frenzy of excitement over ONE positive reaction.” Oh well.  I’ll keep my frenzied excitement and I’ll still pray for my friends!)

Alright, back to the trenches…