Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

This morning was an early morning. I am not a coffee drinker though today if I had some in the house I would have likely been converted. It was one of those "self motivate" days when I literally have to coach myself to get things done. Penny asks me who I'm talking to on these days, which I reply, "mommy is talking to herself". And the cute stage she is in where she repeats what I say back to me makes me sound a little more out of it. Anyhow, I continued on with my morning, and I pulled out the vacuum. As I started my strides across my crumb crunchy carpet I noticed Penny and Grace coming out of their room, Penny with her matching play vacuum, and Grace with a makeshift popcorn sounding vacuum that I am sure Penny handed to her to make her feel part of the action. As we all stood in the living room vacuuming I couldn't help but stop to capture the moment. I'm training my girls. Monkey see, monkey do. I didn't have to say a word. I'm sure anyone with kids has seen this time and time over. Sometimes good things, sometime not so good things. Either way we are training. These small but priceless moments often cause me to reflect on my own life. It is again a reminder of why it is so important to be with our kids. They will be trained by anything and anyone. We have the choice on what and who will do the training, for now. It makes me wonder what things I should be doing more of or less of. What am I teaching my children by my actions? The only way to train my kids, is for myself to be trained and taught. Then my thoughts turned on my own life. My relationship with Jesus and closeness with Him will ALWAYS directly affect my children. The real question is what is Jesus teaching me? Am I so close to my Savior that just like Penny and Grace grabbing their vacuums just to be like Mommy, would I also in the same way grab the things, and seek the things that Jesus does just because I love Him and want to be with Him? So today my kids once again taught me a lesson of how to be. Children. Grabbing and reaching after heavenly things just to be with my Father. So my prayer and hope for now is that God would help me be more like my own kids, and in return see me like Penny and Grace,just wanting to do what Mommy does, even if it is just vacuuming up crumbs.

It's not a sacrifice, it's love.

There is this woman. She doesn't need much. She doesn't stick out by her clothes or drive that new white SUV. She doesn't need it. She becomes what she needs to for her family. Her heart is at home. Her worth is at home. She refuses to let strangers raise her kids. She teaches them. She's there. With them. Waiting for the next opportunity to infuse wisdom. Her children can depend on her. They know they matter. Her actions prove it. It's not a sacrifice, it's love. It's a joy. Her payment is peace, no guilt. She's confident. She's strong. She's not looking for the next opportunity to get "alone" time. She has inner strength. She's a warrior. She's a watchmen of her home. She's ready to defuse any outside influence that could cause harm. She understands her importance. No one can take her place. Her children need her, even when they don't say it. She's wise. She doesn't complain. She's in control. She loves her husband. Her children are secure. Her husband has full confidence in her. She is a crown to him. He wears her love proudly. She is not concerned with earthly admiration, but fears God. She is home. She is thriving. She is alive. She is free. It's not a sacrifice, it's love.