Tempests

I remember over 8 years ago having one child. I called my friend who had 3 and asked her if she'd like to go shopping with us.  She said yes and we met at the mall.  We were walking around and it got close to lunch time and so we stopped, found a table, I went and bought some food and got out my son's bib and food.  I looked over to see what she was going to have with her children and they were each munching on a cookie...A Cookie? For lunch?  That's terrible...is what I thought at the time.   9 years later and sometimes time my 4 sons have a Yop and a granola bar for lunch in the car going from piano to swimming lessons...
How experience changes us or me at least...how time and grace helps me close my mouth and open my heart to other moms...I still open my mouth to often and my heart is not the one speaking...
I can hardly imagine that I was ever able to babysit children before having kids of my own.  I thought being the oldest of 6 would have given me experience but experience as a sister is not the same as that of a mother.
Experience teaches is to take each child at a time and never as a group, each child takes time, energy, love and a WHOLE HEAP of grace...Everytime I happen to have a son disobey or be defiant, etc...and I am 'shocked' at their behaviour I have often wondered if that is just a small glimpse of how God feels when I sin..."There she goes again, has she not learned anything...is sometimes what I hear in my head/heart"...The grace to love and forgive and at times to correct in love with sometimes firm words but all in a loving spirit. Every day is a new day, every moment is a new moment and an opportunity to not let the waves turn in to tempests or hurricanes...May love, grace and wisdom ever be my guide...every step.