Love the Children

 Lord, Help me to love my children well-including each one independently, differently and especially.  Nathaniel, Aliya, Jaxon, and Elizabeth.  

Last night Jaxon was so excited about going to Jennifer's.   In his excitement he gets independent and demanding.  that irritates me and Nathaniel.  Lord, help me to teach him well...and Nathaniel.  This morning I woke up thinking, "I just need to enroll him in school.  We will do better to have less hours with him, have to work around the school schedule, then to deal with him at home."  I do remember feeling like I needed a break when Nathaniel was little.  But I've felt convicted to homeschool for bonding.  And yet there's a spirit of rejection with Jaxon.  "Get him somebody closer in age to play with"... he has a sister who is about to catch up with him... 

But in all my scrambled thinking, this morning I read Chapter 17 in Help Meet:  Love their Children.  Debi points out the importance of me making each kid "my little helper", teaching them as I do the work through the day.  That Jaxon would learn the housework, respect of the kitchen and every area of our family through being a little helper.  

Lord, help me with my "no" issue with him.  I think I do remember that with Nathaniel.  Help me to figure out how to redirect. Help me to engage in school-learning and play.  Help me to include him and all the children.  To invite them to join what I'm doing.  Lord, the irritation I have in me- deliver me.  The rejection- cast it out.  Help me to see the precious in each one.  Help me to be, "The wise woman, who never expects anyone to serve me, and is therefore never disappointed.  That I would be ready to help, always the giver.  That by my example, my children would learn to cheerfully and energetically serve."  

Help my tongue and my mind to reflect your will for me as a wife and mother, so that my children will be blessed.