Learning How To Love

There are some days when I think to myself "What in the world have I gotten myself into?" The house is mess, I'm surrounded by questions, requests, and demands - all immediate of course! The kids seem to be endlessly fighting and bickering over the most trivial of things.

But then there are days like today. Days like today make me proud to be a mom. More specifically, proud to be Morgan, Mary Grace, Collin, Monica and ?'s mom!

Today is Monica's 2nd birthday. Last night I made a cake and told the kids we'd wait until later today to celebrate. But as I came downstairs this morning my kitchen was filled with a flurry of action. The girls were making decorations, paper crowns, cards, while Collin set the plates and glasses and flatware out. He was sure to go ahead and get the cake out as well and place it in the center of the kitchen table for all to admire! They were humming and grinning and there was a skip in their steps as they did these things. All the while I watched I was filled with a warm satisfaction. So, I let the party happen at 9am! Oh well, Tim would be late tonight and would've had to miss it anyhow...so I caved and when they asked "mom can we sing for Monica now pleeeeeeease?" I said "sure". They had done all these things with such great love that I couldn't ruin it for them. Monica was put on her "throne" and treated as the star of the show.

The candles were lit and the singing began. I watched the kids faces and they all were watching Monica's. Her joy pleased them and they were so satisfied. I was so proud at that moment. I knew that they understood how to love. Love is about the other, not the self. Love is in the giving. These family moments (largely due to the fact that I'm homeschooling) afford my kids the opportunity to learn how to love, and love well. It really is true that QUANTITY of time matters more than "quality time". In order for a moment to be effective as a learning tool it must be genuine and unforced. Planning a whole themed, color- coordinated party for Monica, while my other ones were off at school, each doing their own separate thing, would have made for a better photo-op, but it would have NEVER taught my kids about the meaning of LOVE.







And so I am satisfied today with the job I'm doing. I can't tell you how rare that is. I often second guess myself when we fall behind in school and the kids are driving me batty. But when I see them LOVE one another it gives me HOPE! I must be doing something right. Right God?