Like many of you, I originally created a blog as a journal of my thoughts for my kids. I wanted to record my thoughts so that one day my boys could read this and really 'know' who their mom is, what she believes, what she stands for. When they are 25 years old, I want them to be able to read this blog and 'get' me - understand what I am about. I don't have any delusions of them actually understanding me until they are older (at least through their teen years). Meeting so many 'bloggy friends' was just the icing on the cake.
I have to admit, Valentine's Day is not really big on my list of favorite holidays. Yes, I love my husband, but to me Valentine's Day is way too commercial and gifts are not my Love Language anyway. Last night, we went (along with every other person in our state) to buy the boys their Valentine's gifts and the store was cram-packed with people. These people were rushing about trying to find the perfect gifts. Candy was flying off the shelves and flowers were everywhere. Lots of money being spent to say "I love you", when just the words would suffice.
Yesterday was our preschool Valentine's party at church (today is the one at Lake's school - can you say 'tired?'). The last preschool Valentine's party I will have to plan - this is my last year to coordinate preschool activities - I have done it for over 4 years. We played games, made a craft, ate cookies and chips, and I read them a story. After the story, I asked the kids to tell me what Valentine's Day is about. Some yelled out 'candy', some said an obligatory "Jesus" because we were at church. I told them Valentine's Day is about people you love and then I asked them "Who loves you most?" Almost all of them answered "Mommy". Mommy loves you most? Really? Well, yes, that is what many of us mommies would like you to think, but there is Another that loves you more--much more.
On the way home, I thought about it and I have to admit that I have stolen some thunder from the Lord in the area of my kids. I have pretended to love them more than Anyone when that just is not possible. I have actually said "Mommy loves you more than anything". I love my children passionately, but I shouldn't love them more than anything. I should love the Lord my God more than anything else. I should make sure my kids know that no one comes before Jesus - no one loves you more than Jesus.
My prayer for my kids is that Jesus will be their first love and that they will never leave Him. I want them to see that He is first in my life- before them, before their father. I want them to grow up to be men who aren't afraid to love Jesus boldly. I want them to speak out against sin and not be wishy-washy in their convictions. I want them to speak the Truth (in love of course:-) without apology. I, of course, want them to marry a good Christian girl who loves the Lord more than anything, but above all I want them to always remember their First Love. I want them to be the ones who don't care to go against popular opinion to stand up for what is right in the eyes of God. I want them to be good kids, but more importantly I want them to grow up to be Godly men. My new prayer for my boys starting today is : "Lord Jesus, be their first love and never let them grow away from You". If I had a dollar for every time I heard my parents say "You will understand when you have kids of your own" I would be rich. Little did I know how true those words are. Until you experience having children of your own, you do not know the full range of emotions that comes along with being a parent.
OK, now on a lighter note. If you had asked me a couple of days ago, "Beth, do you like dark chocolate?" I would have said and emphatic "NO!". That was until last night. While shopping for the boys Valentine's my hubs (a connoisseur of all things sweet - I mean he picked me, right? ;-) picked up some Dove Dark Chocolate Hearts. I had not eaten anything all day and I was starving, so I decided to try one to keep my stomach from growling so loudly. Today I am a changed woman! If you ask me today, I will say emphatically "I love Dove dark Chocolate". So, maybe Valentine's Day isn't such a bad thing after all!
I have to admit, Valentine's Day is not really big on my list of favorite holidays. Yes, I love my husband, but to me Valentine's Day is way too commercial and gifts are not my Love Language anyway. Last night, we went (along with every other person in our state) to buy the boys their Valentine's gifts and the store was cram-packed with people. These people were rushing about trying to find the perfect gifts. Candy was flying off the shelves and flowers were everywhere. Lots of money being spent to say "I love you", when just the words would suffice.
Yesterday was our preschool Valentine's party at church (today is the one at Lake's school - can you say 'tired?'). The last preschool Valentine's party I will have to plan - this is my last year to coordinate preschool activities - I have done it for over 4 years. We played games, made a craft, ate cookies and chips, and I read them a story. After the story, I asked the kids to tell me what Valentine's Day is about. Some yelled out 'candy', some said an obligatory "Jesus" because we were at church. I told them Valentine's Day is about people you love and then I asked them "Who loves you most?" Almost all of them answered "Mommy". Mommy loves you most? Really? Well, yes, that is what many of us mommies would like you to think, but there is Another that loves you more--much more.
On the way home, I thought about it and I have to admit that I have stolen some thunder from the Lord in the area of my kids. I have pretended to love them more than Anyone when that just is not possible. I have actually said "Mommy loves you more than anything". I love my children passionately, but I shouldn't love them more than anything. I should love the Lord my God more than anything else. I should make sure my kids know that no one comes before Jesus - no one loves you more than Jesus.
My prayer for my kids is that Jesus will be their first love and that they will never leave Him. I want them to see that He is first in my life- before them, before their father. I want them to grow up to be men who aren't afraid to love Jesus boldly. I want them to speak out against sin and not be wishy-washy in their convictions. I want them to speak the Truth (in love of course:-) without apology. I, of course, want them to marry a good Christian girl who loves the Lord more than anything, but above all I want them to always remember their First Love. I want them to be the ones who don't care to go against popular opinion to stand up for what is right in the eyes of God. I want them to be good kids, but more importantly I want them to grow up to be Godly men. My new prayer for my boys starting today is : "Lord Jesus, be their first love and never let them grow away from You". If I had a dollar for every time I heard my parents say "You will understand when you have kids of your own" I would be rich. Little did I know how true those words are. Until you experience having children of your own, you do not know the full range of emotions that comes along with being a parent.
OK, now on a lighter note. If you had asked me a couple of days ago, "Beth, do you like dark chocolate?" I would have said and emphatic "NO!". That was until last night. While shopping for the boys Valentine's my hubs (a connoisseur of all things sweet - I mean he picked me, right? ;-) picked up some Dove Dark Chocolate Hearts. I had not eaten anything all day and I was starving, so I decided to try one to keep my stomach from growling so loudly. Today I am a changed woman! If you ask me today, I will say emphatically "I love Dove dark Chocolate". So, maybe Valentine's Day isn't such a bad thing after all!
For those of you who asked, here is a picture of how the e*es are doing. Much better!
13 comments:
First of all...AMEN on the whole love thing and Valentines thing. I mean...I'm ok with it....but it won't crush my sould if my hubs doesn't get me anything. I don't need that thing to tell me how much he loves me.....but, I completely understand those who love getting those things. Thats great. Just not for me.
Anyway....and while i'm out today getting some small happy's for the kids....i'll make sure to tell them that Jesus loves them way more than I do! :)
Have a great day friend.
Fran
Happy Valentines Day to you!
I'm not a fan of dark chocolate, but I do love Dove dark chocolate. I think it's the brand!
This was SOOOOO good. I'm too have been guilty of saying to my girls that Mommy loves you more than anyone... Thanks for this thought. So true.
Have a wonderful day!
steph.
you spoke truth bethanne. sometimes we mean well but we want our children to know the real picture. in their minds we are "God" so our love needs to be Christ-like and in this earthen vessel it can be challenging at times. i hope i make sense. valentine's day i can take it or leave it, dove chocolates dark or milk...yum! and your eyes really look much better. happy valentines to you. <3 you ~janel
thank you for your encouragement today.
First, to avoid the pressure of valentines, easter...junk buying, i always get the kids something useful, something i would get them anyways, but can give as a gift on these days.
v-day is typically books (although i got the girls some adorable spring/summer cherry p.j.'s this year),
for easter, i fill a bucket and shovel with easter grass and give them their summer swim suits, goggles, floaties, sunscreen.
i figure i am going to have to purchase these items anyways, and this make sit more fun.
so there is a suggestion to avoid junk overload.
i tell my kids i love them more than anybody on earth! that way it's all good. i want them to love and live for Jesus the most. they get that, even in all my mommy drooling over them. your kiddos will be fine, and have direction to understanding the Love that is high,and wide,and long, and deep.
What a wonderful prayer and desire for your children! Hopefully they will grown up to place the Lord first in their lives, above everything and everyone :)
What a great reminder for us to share the amazing love that Christ has for our kids. Thank you for reminding me of this & your picture is beautiful!!
I just love you to pieces...I came by to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day and tell you there's a string of pearls on my post for you and then I read your honest heart great ramblings and repentances...and it's like, you really are listening to your Lord's Voice~
Your longings are just beautiful Bethanne!
I tasted Dove for the first time yesterday and spit it out, not a chocolate fan. How funny.
Happy Valentine's Day to someone who is full of childlike faith! And that's really something only He can do in you.
i left you something on my blog
Happy Valentine's Day!
You know dark chocolate is suppose to be the healthy kind! :)
What a great post! Now, I'm so going to have to change my Mommy loves you more than anyone speech to include - well, oh yeah, except Jesus and all. Thanks for you comments. As a matter of fact I do have more poetry more recent. You just never know when some might pop up.
Your lesson for the preschoolers sounded great.
Glad your eyes are better. That is a beautiful picture!
And cannot believe you have been missing out on the Dove Dark Chocolates for so long. YUM!
I smiled when you talked about the preschool party! I am an assistant teacher with the 4's and we had our Valentine's party thursday-it was CRAZY! My partner in the class and I were saying that it was by far the craziest day we have had all year! The kids were wild and they had a blast, we were exhausted!
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