The Government Can

In case you did not get to watch this video on my facebook page, I wanted to make it available here. It is SO funny...the children and I catch ourselves singing it a bit too much. His facial expressions makes it all worthwile...Enjoy! :) Its too bad that what he is singing about is so true. Thankfully we do not put our trust in the government!

"I'd be happy to"

I recently finished the book The Duggars; Eighteen and Counting and was telling a close dear friend to me today of how we have adopted one of their training ideas for their children. That is, when we ask our child to do something, whether a little difficult or not for them to respond with the right attitude of "Yes ma'am (sir), I'd be happy to". Our children have already learned to say "yes ma'am", but the "I'd be happy to" part is new.

I was telling her what a joy it is to hear come out of these precious little mouths, who for the most part are happy to do whatever I am asking at the moment. But there are times when they are not, but in saying so, it is helping to train them to have a good attitude, even when it is hard.

After telling her this she remarked that it sounded as if I was "programming" them, and what about their "free will"? I hadn't really thought about it from that viewpoint until she asked me, but at that moment we agreed to dis-agree and left the subject.

Now she's got me thinking. Am I just programming little robots to do exactly as I want? Am I squashing their free will? As I have been mulling this over in my mind while nursing and visiting with all the people helping us pack up today, I figured I would write it out here and it may help me work through it all.

So for the first question, am I programming robots? I would have to say absolutely not. I believe that I am training these children that God has given me how to obey. I believe that obedience for the most part goes against our nature. We all want what WE want after all...whether we are 6 months old, five, 25 or older. It is something that needs to be trained in us. That is one reason we are teaching them to obey instantly whenever we tell them something to do.

But God also wants us to not only learn to obey, but to do so cheerfully. So is it better to forget that part and let them get away with "obeying" but walking away with a scowl, stomp or snorting in anger because they do not want to do whatever it is I told them? That is what naturally comes out after all when I am not focusing on their cheerful obedience.

If anything, practicing "I'd be happy to" will be used as a reminder each time they say it that they should be happy, even if they are not! I know for myself whenever I am doing something that I do not quite enjoy or downright do not want to do at all, if I have a happy heart while doing it, it is always so much better. I do not want to foster in my children that if you do not like something, you have the "right" to be un-happy and miserable while doing it. That will only make them miserable in the long run.

Now to the second question...and I squashing their "free will"? I hope I can articulate this right, but in a way I think yes. Yes in the sense that I am helping root out their free will that causes and leads to sin. I know I can never make them perfect and that they will sin...but I would like to do whatever I can to help lesson that. Maybe it would be considered squashing their free will if we never let them make any decisions on their own (of course, age appropriate ones), but that is not what this is about at all.

They will technically always have free will, as we all do. But anytime you put yourself under authority, or you are put under authority as a child is unto a parent, you have to give up some of that free will for the time.

What would our military be like if the soldiers decided that they would not get up at 4 a.m. to do their drills, or the employee decided that he did not have to obey his managers orders, or the wife thought that she knew better than her husband and did not have to follow him, or the Christian who believed his plan was better than God's? As I type this, it occurs to me that is pretty much how our world is at the moment, or rather, since the fall. Bottom line, rebellion.

So to train our children to submit to us with a cheerful happy heart will hopefully teach them to do the same with wherever the Lord leads them in life as adults, and mostly will give them hearts to love and obey Him better as well. I think we'll continue on this path as we are...thank you dear friend for helping me to work through this in my mind! Love you!

Closings, Birthdays and Other Stuff

I apologize for being so absent here on the old blog. Between showing our home, dealing with all the details in buying the other home, packing and good old being a wife and mother; I have been hard pressed to find the time to sit down and write out my thoughts. I still plan on doing so once things have settled a bit.

We have extended the closing date from yesterday, to worst case scenario Sept 30. Best case would be this week so that our tenants can move into our home Oct 1, and we'll have it ready for them as well. So we'll see? Truly trying not to stress out and trust God in this whole process...though honestly I have struggled greatly not to be anxious!

Last weekend we celebrated my grandmother's 94th birthday with family at the farm. It was wonderful to see everyone, including my aunt & uncle who moved to England last year to pastor a church. A good portion of family made it besides my cousins and one aunt (who lives in a different state). So in a way it was a bit of a family reunion as well. My grandmother looked great and seemed to enjoy herself immensely. Anytime she's at her farm she is pretty happy. Very fun!
Noble is walking now more and more! He will be one on the 27th! I just cannot believe how fast this year has gone by. Ireland, Caleb & True are all doing well also...daily showing growth in their love for one another and the Lord, also showing areas that need refinement and bringing out areas in myself that need refining as well! Oh, how children do that...so thankful!

My house is packed, our schedule is whacked and I am looking forward to getting settled and back to normal. I think I will be getting out my "Manager's of Their Home's & Chores" book out when we move and re-do our schedule and chore packs. Especially since Caleb & True are beginning to be even more helpful pulling their own weight around the house. I'm really looking forward to all the organizing that is ahead!

I hope all my dear blog friends and family and anyone else who happens to read this is having a wonderful week and knows just how much Jesus loves you!

What's So Funny?