How Well Do You Know Your Kids?

I had the unique privilege of putting my boy to bed tonight. Usually, his daddy does the bedtime routine while I am with his big sister. But big sis is away at a sleepover and daddy needed a shower after helping friends move so I was blessed with the treat of feeding and rocking my sweet, little man tonight.

As I sat with him and watched him drink milk, he looked up at me with his big, brown eyes and grabbed my hand from time to time to hold. I sat, gushing with love for my child, trying desperately to find the perfect words to pray over him.

May he be a man of strength and honor, Lord. May he know love and kindness and most of all Jesus, I prayed.

And while I know those prayers are fervent and good, I couldn?t help but think there must be more. More unique requests I could lay before the Lord. More specific prayers.

I?ve been thinking about this a lot lately for both of my children. Not just in the area of prayer but also as it pertains to how I guide them. I know it?s true that no two children are alike (even siblings) and while I believe there are some absolutes to this parenting thing, I understand that I must know ? I mean, truly know my children if I am going to mother them effectively.

The concept of knowing my children first struck me as I read Kisses from Katie earlier this year. I was blown away by the way this young mother knew her girls enough to write a full paragraph about each of their unique personalities. . .even the little ones. What a sweet testimony to her maturity as a new mom. I longed to know my children this way. Had I not been paying attention? Were they just too young? I?d always thought I couldn?t verbalize their personalities because they were still developing. That may be true to some extent but I now believe if I pay close enough attention and ask the Lord to open my eyes, I can see more clearly into their hearts and minds.

Motherhood is not one size fits all. I?ve always thought the sizing up was about me but I was only partially right. Motherhood is not one size fits all and neither is childhood. Our children?s personalities are as unique as our own. The only way to be an effective mother is to know your child for the sake of loving them and leading them well.

For me, this means that I stop and think about things they say and do that are clues to what is going on inside of them. It means I spend time at night after they are in bed talking with my husband about the silly, adorable and sometimes utterly frustrating things they did that day. Together we process what it means and how it might reflect who they are and what they need from us.

?O, Lord you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. . .You are familiar with all my ways.? Psalm 139:1-3

This chapter is Psalm is such a wonderful example from our Abba Father. He searches us and knows us. He is familiar with all of our ways. What a beautiful picture of motherhood. The Psalmist goes on to pray. . .

?Search me, oh God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.? Psalm 139:23-24

Moms, we must search our children and know their hearts fully if we are going to effectively parent them. We cannot apply the ?rules? like a blanket over their lives. We must consider their uniqueness before we lay out boundaries, structure and strategy.

Then and only then can we successfully guide their lives.

Moms, how have you purposed to know your children? If you feel so inclined, we?d love for you to share about your unique little ones. I?ll start. . .

My sweet girl, Hope (4 yrs old) is a chameleon. Her personality changes depending on the situation she is in. She is timid and shy when around people she is not yet comfortable with but give her time and she?ll explode. At home or with those she knows well, she is a firecracker of energy and fun. She is sassy and a bit strong-willed around her family. But in a structured environment (such as school) she is well behaved and helpful. She has such a sweet spirit (underneath her sass) and with the right guidance will be a force to be reckoned with.

My little man, Joshua (14 months) is truly a bundle of joy. He has worn a smile on his face most of the time since he was teeny, tiny. He?s always been pretty social. He lights up any time he hears music and loves to dance. He has little fear and climbs on anything in sight. He?s inquisitive and loves to explore, leaving no stone unturned. Watch out though, my boy has a very tender heart. With the right guidance, he will be a gentle leader.

Source: http://www.graceformoms.com/how-well-do-you-know-your-kids/

transcendental meditation trayvon martin obama care miss universe canada don draper gallagher madmen