By Steph Fink
My son boogied into the kitchen and joined me, as I wassmack dab in the middle of both cooking dinner and shakin’ my groove thing toToby Mac. It was a moment where my inner Solid Gold dancer met his inner rockstar and it was pure awesomeness!
We’ve danced in the kitchen like this before but this particularjam session turned “unique” when my son air spanked his own bottom whileshaking his moneymaker. (For therecord, he was not mirroring my moves, okay?)
Equally entertained and concerned, I inquired, “Where’d yalearn that move honey?”
Without missing a beat, “Playing Wii Just Dance with you,Momma!”
Wide eyed I replied, “What was that honey? You learned thatin public school?”
How desperately I want to blame someone, something, someinstitution more than myself when “unique” situations arise. Like when my other son used the word“crap” in a contextually correct sentence.
That was not public school’s fault then either.
Clearly, I’m not perfect; but somehow I think that “secret”has been out for some time now.
One evening, after a particularly traumatic homework sessionwith my kids, I beat myself up for all the things that I’m not…patient, polite,or intelligent (forget fifth grade, I’m not smarter than a third grader!). I was feeling like I was not making thegrade as a mother.
Have you ever been there?
As I sat in my favorite overstuffed sand colored chair thefollowing morning, I watched my boys come down to the kitchen and start makingtheir own breakfast and do the school routine. They didn’t come over to me because they knew what I wasdoing. I was in a privatemeeting. It was in this privatemeeting with God that I recognized that while I’m not doing everything right,I’m also not doing everything wrong,either.
While I’m the first to submit I am concerned my kids willneed counseling once grown…I’ve gotten to the point, that I’m not entirelyruining them either.
Every morning my kids see their Mom sit in the same chairwith her Bible, journal and at times, with her eyes closed. They know not to interrupt because theyknow what their Mom is doing, spending time with God. They know their Solid-Gold-dancing Momma is dedicated tospending time with God and growing spiritually. They also know Mom is a lot nicer after spending time withGod (which is most likely why they no longer interrupt Mom’s time with God!).
Jim George wrote in 10 Minutes to Knowing the Men and Women of the Bible that,”God’s teachings are sometimes better caught than taught.” I can tellmy kids to read the Bible until I’m blue in the face, but not until they see medo it will they know for certain that there’s merit to that idea.
How about for just a moment, you and I stop beatingourselves up for all that we’re not and celebrate one thing that we are.
I’ll go first. I’mnot perfect, but I am faithful. (Phew, that sure felt good to write!)
The dance of faith has a lot of different moves andsteps. Reading the Bible and silent moments alone with God will help my kids dancethrough the (ahem) “crap” life brings with faith.
Don’t tell me what you’re not, tell me what youare! What is one thing that youare proud of that you’re teaching your kids?
(And, if the mood is right, do a little air spank to celebratewhat you are, just cause!) J
Steph’s writing has appeared in Proverbs 31 Ministry, P31 Woman magazine. In
her free time she can be found encouraging numerous MOPS group in the
northern Virginia area on the “Colorful Art of Friendship – Allowing
God to Paint the Masterpieces” and MOPS leaders on “Being a Bright
Light”.
Steph can be found blogging at www.encouragedinheart.org or on Facebook at Stephanie Fink or on her Facebook page Encouraged in Heart – Stephanie Fink. She loves big hair, big cups of coffee and big bear hugs.