Lessons from our children :)

I posted this as a blog.. but I felt it would be a nice discussion as well, especially for parents :)

I am humbly reminded how often we take our children for granted, as far as what they can teach US and not only us teach them.

After a long discussion with my son on behaving, and listening to his mother, and not hurting others (he had gotten in trouble at school) ... he asked for forgiveness, and asked if I would be like God and give him a second chance to be better.... well of course I replied that I would, and that God and his mommy give him not only second chances, but many many more chances than maybe we even deserve. How patient our Lord is with all of us, some of us seem to mess up daily, (sheepishly raises her hand* haha) but still he calls us his children, and helps us to make ourselves better. My son than told me that he needed some time alone, and I found him instantly praying to our Father to help him listen to his mom and behave, among other things he wished for. He even prayed for my own happiness not just with him, but in things that I often am upset about. I of course cried like a baby haha// As a mother, I was deeply proud of my son, but he taught me a lesson in all this.

First, how patient God is, and how as a father he must hurt everytime we fall. I felt heart broken thinking of all the times I haven't listened to HIM as well... are we any different than our children really? Also, should I not fall on my knees to pray to be better more often? Should this not be our first instinct, like that of my son's, to pray in that moment for forgiveness, and the help to be better?

As parents, we teach our children, but do we pay attention to the lessons they have to teach us as well? The innocence and faith of a child is amazing! My son continues to be an inspiration daily, and I think that we are all teachers, and yet all students as well.

Matthew 18:1-3

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.