I showed up to church a few weeks ago not a little proud in my new dress. If I’ve only worn it twice before, it’s a new dress – so what that it’s eight years old. After three more kids the important thing is that it fits me…again, but this is all beside the point.
My four and six-year-olds got out of the van holding a “goodie bag” each that was meant for a specific friend. As I was “explaining” to them that first of all I didn’t say they could give all those toys away, and second of all it was not kind to all the other children to bring only a toy for one, I looked up and there was my youngest stepping out of the van all by himself. I yanked on the back of his shirt on his way down just doing enough good to break his fall a little as he hit the pavement face first. I snatched him and began loudly laying into my oldest for “pushing” him out of the van and looked accusingly at my husband asking him what exactly he had been doing all this time. “Nice save.” he said.
I was feeling somewhat justified in my ranting, but as I walked into the church I hoped no one had seen (or heard) my outburst. I settled into my pew for the sermon written just for me. Some one might as well have yelled, “Ready. Aim. FIRE.” and pointed right at me. The text was Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers (mothers in my case,) do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. ” I walked in angry and self righteous. I walked out broken, humbled, forgiven, and with renewed hope.
Lynn says
September 12, 2010 at 6:57 pmI certainly understand about those outbursts, having brought up four children of my own. Fortunately God, Who knows and sees everything about us, loves us through it all and is always available to help us recover from our not-so-good moments.
EstherIrish says
September 12, 2010 at 7:15 pmYes He is! Thank you so much Lynn for the encouragement!
Beth P says
September 12, 2010 at 8:08 pmhey! just found your blog! fun! thanks for sharing your funny stories! I love that I can hear your laugh to this day!
EstherIrish says
September 12, 2010 at 8:23 pmThank you for reading! I can certainly get loud when I am laughing. I think it may be my trademark! lol
Ash Peaster says
September 12, 2010 at 10:07 pmDon’t you just love it when you do something two minutes before service and then sit in your bench for the next two hours thinking “That pastor saw what happened out there and changed his sermon, didn’t he?” Haha God has a funny way of teaching us sometimes. ^_^
Glynn says
September 21, 2010 at 10:33 amWe’ve all had these moments with our kids. I think God is raising us as parents at the same time we’re raising our kids. So we ask forgiveness. Thanks for hsaring this story.
Melissa Brotherton says
September 21, 2010 at 7:00 pmOh, I have those moments too. And that sermon spoke to me, as well. Thank you for sharing your brokenness and helping me to know I’m not alone in this. 🙂
N. Nicholes says
September 24, 2010 at 1:46 amBoy oh boy have I had those moments at church where it seems as if the pastor is speaking ONLY to me. Whether its after a spat with my husband, or flying off the handle with my two children. It’s so comforting that God is a forgiving God and not NEARLY as impatient as we are. Your blog is a wonderfully refreshing change of pace from all the other things that attack our senses on the internet. God bless you!
Anne Lang Bundy says
September 26, 2010 at 12:41 pmI’m certain that I learn more by being a parent than I’ll ever hope to teach as a parent. It’s good when we’re able to catch our mistakes and apologize to our kids because of the Holy Spirit’s goodness when He breaks us.
Bridget says
September 26, 2010 at 9:07 pmI think as parents we’ve all been in this position… thanks for the reminder and for sharing your story with us.