Trampolines, Water and Rainbows

Sometimes as a mom I doubt myself. Okay, a lot of the time. In an attempt to teach my children life skills and Godly character, I sometimes feel like I fail miserably to model the behavior that I so badly want them to have. How can my lack of patience with them show them how to be patient with others? How can I expect their tone with others to be kind if my tone with them is less than  lovely. I find God constantly whispering correction in my ear as He challenges me to be more like Him. Oh how I want to be more like HIM. 

I pray for my children daily, but sometimes my mama heart still leans toward worry. Am I teaching them respect, honor, and how to value others and themselves. Am I teaching them the right subjects in school? Am I teaching them how to eat healthy and take care of their bodies? Are they learning the life skills they will need later in life? Are they responsible and self-motivated?  Are they honest, dependable, and trustworthy?

Today especially, my focus was on my boys. Oh boys . . . You probably know this, but they are so very different from girls. If you have not raised them, you may not quite understand them. My boys aren't usually quiet, they wrestle ALL THE TIME, sitting still for more than 5 minutes is very rare, and playing can turn into fighting in a matter of seconds. Best friends one minute and  sworn enemies the next. They want everything they do to be considered "dangerous," and get a thrill watching their mother squirm when they bring bugs and creatures around. They make weird noises and are amused at the weirdest things. And someday, these boys will be men and husbands to two lucky girls. :) Will they be ready? How can I keep them boys, pure and innocent, while teaching them to be men? I sat and watched them jumping on the trampoline  in the water and for a brief moment felt overwhelmed at this enormous responsibility.

​I closed my eyes and whispered a brief prayer for them and for me. I prayed that God would keep their hearts soft and teachable and that He would continue to put people in their lives that would speak life and truth to them. And for myself I prayed for wisdom, strength, grace and peace. When I opened my eyes, I saw the most precious sight.

Can you see it?  Yes, those are my boys jumping on the trampoline in the water and they are precious. But do you see the rainbow? That rainbow brought tears to my eyes and peace to my heart as God gently whispered His words to me. He doesn't need me to be perfect in order to complete His perfect work in my children. He just needs me to do my best and give all that I have and He will come in and fill in the gaps. He is more than enough and His plan is not dependent on my mothering skills or lack there of.  How my children turn out or what they accomplish in life will not be because I was such a great mother or because of my skills. It will be because of HIM and His grace and mercy. He has already provided all they need for life and eternity. I trusted my children to God's care when they were small and I believe that He will continue to work and complete what He has started in their lives. My boys will be ok!