Remember this? I’ve posted about it before. I found it at the Country Living Fair 2 years ago. It is one of my very favorite finds. VERY favorite. Maybe I like it too much…
What would YOU do, how would YOU react if your child was tearing around the house, being very reckless, you had told her to ‘STOP IT RIGHT NOW!’, she didn’t listen, and then you heard it… a loud crash…followed by silence?? What would you do? How would YOU react??
…and then you dared to look and found…
this.
Shock. Deep Breath. “It broke??!! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING? I TOLD YOU TO STOP! THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!! HOW COULD YOU!! IF YOU WOULD JUST LISTEN WHEN YOU ARE TOLD THESE THINGS WOULDN’T HAPPEN!! I AM SO UPSET! THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS! HOW COULD YOU?! I KNOW YOU DIDN’T MEAN TO BUT YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN! NO RUNNING IN THE HOUSE! LISTEN WHEN I TELL YOU TO STOP!!!!!!! and all at the top of my lungs I’m afraid.
And then I had to stop and think that God probably feels like saying these things to me…daily… if He were human anyway. Which He isn’t and I’m so thankful. But, oh the times He looks at me sadly and says tenderly, ‘My child, why don’t you slow down and listen to ME? I know what’s best for you, if you would just let me lead you. I love you and I want the best for you.”
So I calmed down, apologized, and reminded Big Sister AND MYSELF that she is much more important than a big plastic ‘F’. That F will ‘melt with fervent heat’ someday, but Big Sister has a soul that will last through all eternity. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
A few tears, some patience, a tube of epoxy, and the expertise of my wonderful husband and my big plastic F now resides in it’s usual spot. And unless you look closely you wouldn’t even know anything happened to it. But I know. And it reminds me every day that I have 3 little souls that are MUCH more important than any earthly possession I could ever have. And I am their example. May they learn the right things from me in spite of my human failings. Only by the Grace of God!!!
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OH Jill, I needed that today. The kids were argueing all the way home from church, and in the door, through lunch……it is so hard to keep your cool sometimes. 🙂 You are right, their souls are eternal and things are not. Hope your weekend was good, dear friend. tonia
What a great reminder. Very well said. Thanks so much!
I have thought a lot about how patient the Lord is with me & how easily I tend to get frustrated @ my children sometimes…
Thank you for the refresher though.. 🙂
Blessings to you !
sigh,
this happens to all of us………..
thank goodness for epoxy stuff, it's handy always at our house.
oh, i found something for you…….i do believe you had one and one of your girls broke it?????
i put in a safe place from luke!! ha
i love that red letter f! and we can't worry about all this stuff……
xoxo,
kara
Oh, how familiar that sounds. Too familiar, in fact. I'm glad that you remembered what is really important in life and I'm thankful for God's grace when I am the transgressor!
Hope your week is blessed!
i cautioned over and over about an
antique lamp globe/with beaded edge-
what a crushing lesson in humility
when i broke it myself when dusting.
Lord help me to care
– or not to care …
"what is seen is temporal"
isn't it just amazing how hard this is to get thru these thick skulls of ours (mine)?! we are human and must be reminded time after time.
Bless your honesty, Jill. I think all (most?) of us have had moments when we saw our child melt in the face of harsh words. I think the greater lesson and the one she will remember is your apology. It's normal to get angry and say mean things…but above normal to humbly apologize. thanks for the reminder…I need it….today!
Love this post Jill… I have been waiting on some free time to get caught up on my blog reading. Thanks for the reminder! Is that an after picture? Because you cannot tell it's glued at all…. Just adds character.
Yes, that is an after picture! Travis did a great job with the epoxy, and I'm so thankful to still have 'one of my favorite things'. And I really do think about how much more important my children are than things every time I look at it!
Jill