Oh Bless You

Photo credit: rachellynphotography.com

Our grandchildren, Judeth, two, and Samuel, one, live in D.C.  Bill and I go into baby withdrawl if we go more than 6 weeks without seeing these little bugs. That really is heart wrenching for me. Those little two babies are embedded into my DNA!  We were face-timing earlier. While we were talking I got choked a little and started coughing. Jude stopped what she was saying, sat up straight leaning into the camera screen, looked me in the eyes and said, “Oh bless you, Nawny, you ok?” The joy and pride I felt when I looked into her little eyes was quite overwhelming. This pride wasn’t just of her, but for her mama, my daughter, Rachel. She and Phil are such amazing parents. I’ve watched them from day one when they brought her home from the hospital, and then 13 months later when they brought Samuel home. They are truly quite extraordinary!

A two-year-old doesn’t just automatically notice the nuances of conversation elements … they are taught. She and Sam always say please, thank you, bless you, excuse me, and I’m sorry. I feel like we, as a society, have lost the little niceties that make tough days a bit easier, and moments that could be tense suddenly warmed by saying, “I’m sorry.” Not just, “sorry,” but by taking responsibility … “I’m sorry.” The other side of that is to wait for the response from the one who was offended or hurt … “I forgive you,” or “it’s ok.” Their mama and daddy help them do this every time and, now, it is second nature to them both.

It’s much easier to just let it go when these moments occur a thousand times each day. But these are “teachable moments.” It may be harder to stop everything and make the most of those moments … but that is when it matters the most. That’s when they are aware, soft and pliable. It’s so much more important than whatever urgent thing you are doing. Stop and seize the moment. Help your children become extraordinary simply by doing the most basic thing … being kind yourself.

Thanksgiving is a great time to  think about how you can help your children be kind, loving, thoughtful and forgiving.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Just Jesus,

Sheri