Take time to notice the Glimpses
I think often times as parents it is hard to see we are making head way with our kids. It is easy to get frustrated and wonder, if it's even worth trying. But I have found that if we look closely- our children will provide us every once in awhile with "Glimpses" of who they can become. We need to take full advantage of these moments- tell our kids how proud we are of them, pat ourselves on the back for the efforts we have thus far given, and continue to press forward with vigor in teaching them the values/lessons we believe are important.
(Parents do need Pats along the way! That's what keeps us going.)
Examples:
Recently I walked into the kitchen and Kaden was sitting down to eat lunch alone. He had his head bowed and was saying a prayer. When he saw me, he seemed a bit startled and embarrassed. I quickly went over to him, gave him a hug, and told him how proud I was of him for saying a prayer before he ate.
Scripture study in our house has been quite interesting. With such a span of ages to accommodate it hasn't been easy. We've tried a variety of different tactics to make it a useful, fun, and an interesting time to learn. Usually the younger ones play the role of the distractors. Kinnli has had that job for the last 5 yrs. She has spent many a time on a stool in the middle of the living room to keep her contained from bothering her brothers. There has been an abundance of tears shed by her as we have lost our patients and lectured her on being reverent, listening, and sitting still. We have even prayed about it in family prayer afterwards.
Tonight we had a "Glimpse" into the future. Kinnli grabbed her scriptures when it was time to read them. She cuddled up next to Josh, asked him to find her place, and begged him several times to help her read a verse. She doesn't know how to read, so he would read a phrase and she would repeat it. She beamed -the smile on her face was priceless- and she was, for one of the first times, actually NOT a distraction.
Glimpses aren't always a spiritual thing either. Kaden, Kale, and Kam will sometimes surprise me by cleaning the house:) or making pancakes/French toast for everyone before I even wake up. (They are very early risers.) Values of work, self-sufficiency and service are also important at our house.
When you see glimpses happen- write them down. Your kids will love to read them.
