Increase our faith

1. "Marc, you left your dominoes out."

"Sorry, Mom."
"I forgive you."

2. "Marc, do not put checkers in your mouth."

"Sorry, Mom."

"I forgive you."

3. "Marc, come flush the toilet."

"Sorry, Mom."

"I forgive you."

4. "Marc, do not put the silly putty in your hair."

"Sorry, Mom."

"I forgive you."

5. "Marc, do not unroll that much toilet paper."

"Sorry, Mom."

"I forgive you."

6. "Marc, do not throw blocks at your brother."

"Sorry, Mom."

"I forgive you."

7. "Marc, do not use the tape without asking first."

"Sorry, Mom."

"I forgive you."

"Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, "I repent," forgive him." Luke 17: 3, 4

The mom job of forgiving again and again can be wearisome but I must reflect God's grace to my children. He forgives me again and again for my daily mistakes. I am grateful for my children's repentant hearts. Sometimes seven times a day is more like 70 x 7, especially multiplied by four children; however, I have faith that God will supply His grace.

"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" Luke 17:5 That is my prayer, as well.

Okay, so I attempted to share this post with Tim and Sarah. You know, to demonstrate how important it is to forgive others, especially their brother. Sarah asked what "rebuke" meant and after a quick explanation, Tim interrupted, "Oh good, I thought you said re-puke. You know, throw up on your brother!" This dissolved the little girl in giggles and even mama smiled, but I'm trusting that God's word will not return void. "The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" Luke 17:5

Mother's Day 2010

My own mother, bless her heart, was stranded at my home with a horrible cold that swelled up her eyes so much she couldn't drive home, so she and Dad stayed an extra night, and I got to help take care of her.

Then my Tim woke me at 5:00 Mother's Day morning, "Mom, I think I'm going to throw up." Sure enough. So I got to take care of my first-born, also. Quite a morning. Tim says to me, "Mom, remember all those times I'm not glad you are my mom?"

"Yes, Tim," I answer.

"Well today, I am REALLY glad you are my mom. You are taking care of me when I'm sick." As the morning went on, he felt a little better but we all skipped church. Mom's eyes were better enough that she headed home. Ryan stayed with the kids and I drove in the car (all alone) to I-HOP (all alone) where I got a newspaper and ordered my favorite breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and a cup of coffee. Did you know they give you your own coffeepot there? Did you know pancakes are supposed to be eaten when they are hot? It was a wonderful breakfast, although I kept yawning for some strange reason. They even gave me a carnation.

Later, I got a nice, long nap, miniature roses, and a chocolate, chocolate cake from my wonderful family. I love being a mom.

We now have a scale in the bathroom. I have always been opposed to this practice. Remember those commercials with the people chained to their bathroom scales? I have never wanted to be a slave to the scale or obsess over those daily changes in my weight. Hence, I have NEVER had a bathroom scale. Why now?

It’s actually Ryan’s scale. He used to keep it at work, but now that his office is home, the scale lives in the bathroom. I hid it in the closet for awhile, but it kept mysteriously reappearing. I have flatly refused to step on it. Instead of my becoming a slave to the scale (whew!), something else has happened. Something I didn’t, but should’ve, anticipated.

I now get daily reports, sometimes twice a day, on how much my eight year old weighs, how much a game weighs, how much the trash can weighs, how much…you get the idea…

So, we now have a scale in the bathroom.