As I sit here, trying to figure out what to write, I am filled with many different emotions as I reflect on the past week. Overall, it was a great week! But this evening I allowed my heart to be ruled by my flesh. The boys didn't get a nap and were extra difficult. I let their sinfulness draw out the sinfulness of my own heart. Just as my children repeatedly disobeyed and rebelled today, so I repeatedly disobeyed and rebelled against God in my heart. I think one reason God created the parent/child relationship was to show us parents how sinful we are. I am thankful for this in that sin exposed is sin that can be dealt with. I am so glad that the Lord laid on my heart to start this year off by spending more time in His Word! It is only through Scripture and the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts that we can see and lament our wickedness before the Holy God while at the same time rejoice in His atoning work and imputed righteousness.
The Scripture that had the most impact on me this week came not from my own reading, however, but from Keanna's Bible story book. Today we read about God's judgement on Cain for killing Abel. As I read, surrounded by my children, my heart was just heavy with the fact that I am no more righteous than Cain. Had Christ not shed His blood for my sins and covered me with His perfection, I would be no better off than the first murderer. Praise God for His plan of salvation!
As for my Bible reading plan, I am doing well. I am about two-and-a-half days behind, which is perfectly fine since there are six extra days (25 readings per month; 31 days in January). As long as I stay at this pace, I should be able to start February on schedule.
Toy pick-up time was a success this week!! All the toys, couch cushions, articles of clothing, blankets, etc. got picked up and put away before the kids went to bed. My goal was to have them do it before dessert time, but sometimes we forgot and realized it afterward. Nevertheless, we had them pick everything up afterward and the house stayed really clean!! And as the week went on, they needed less and less prodding from Robbie and I. They still need verbal help, but they are getting the hang of it. I can honestly say that the little extra effort every evening is making for a more relaxed house overall!
This week's new habit stems out of a DTP assignment that Robbie had to do. He was given 11 questions that we had to sit down and seriously discuss. Things like, "In what ways can I [Robbie] be more Christ-like?," "What things do I do annoy you?," "How can I listen to you better?," etc. While the goal of the assignment was to help him take a close look at himself and become a better husband and father, I definitely saw areas where I need to work.
One thing that came up that I want to change is how I respond to him when he gets home from work every day. Often he comes home when I am in the middle of preparing dinner, changing a diaper, cleaning up a mess, or switching laundry around. I usually just say, "Hi!" to him and finish what I am doing before washing my hands and giving him a hug and a kiss. To show him that he is my domestic priority, I want to stop what I am doing, wash my hands if necessary, and give him a huge welcome-home hug. The chicken can wait a few minutes to be chopped, half the laundry can sit in the washer until he knows he is loved an appreciated at home, the spilled milk on the floor will still be there in five minutes. Of course, there will be some times I will have to complete the task at hand before physically greeting him--a half-changed April will still be there after a hug, but those few minutes of naked baby running free in the house could be disastrous!
So, I hereby resolve to lay aside all tasks within reason to great my husband with a hug and a kiss when he comes home from work so he knows that he is loved, appreciated, and cherished at home.
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