Great Expectations

Do I enjoy my children as much as I expect from them? This convicting quote came from a focus on the family broadcast last week. I have been mulling this over in my mind and wondering if my children feel that I expect a great deal and at times do not enjoy them like I know I do. I think we are all capable of that as parents. I know that during a day of teaching and all that goes with parenting young children, I can become caught up in the seemingly meaningless tasks. These tasks are necessary for a home to run. Laundry, cooking, cleaning, cat litter, gecko food/cleaning, making beds, cleaning the toothpaste out of the sink that sits in globs and gradually hardens and by the time I notice is a just as much a part of the sink as the sink itself!! Trendy I think!

I know that all of these put together are what marks a family as a family! We do these things as part of our journey together. In all of that my expectations become marked with selfishness. I want it done and done now, oh and in my timing and them done really well!! Yes, too many words for the kids to hear sometimes and it can lend to a feeling that I am not enjoying just expecting.

Our heavenly Father delights in us, and I want to delight in meaningful ways in my children. 

I want to leave some lines from a song that we sang at church on Sunday. We had such a wonderful time of community  - church service, fellowship lunch (yum!), short devotional/worship and communion together. This is one we sang and it brought tears to my eyes and heart.

The Look

Lyrics John Newton

Altered by Paul W. Martin

vs 1 and 3 below

 For years my sin was my delight, I felt no shame or fear

Till one day something stole my sight and forced me to draw near

I saw One hanging on a tree, in agony and blood

Who fixed His mournful eyes on me as near His cross I stood...

Alas! I knew not what I did, but now my tears in vain;

Where shall my trembling soul be hid? For I the Lord have slain.

But with a second look He said, " I freely all forgive;

This blood is for your ransom paid, I died, that you might live..." 

Chorus

Forever etched upon my mind

Is the look of Him who died,

The Lamb I crucified

And now, my life will sing the praise

 Of pure atoning grace

That looked on me and gladly took my place...

I live because He died. I am free by His grace and that is what wakes me every day. I forgive and my children forgive me. We attempt to model what Christ has done for us.