Recently I have been encouraging Jairus to shake off minor boo-boos. It is just a good skill for a kid to learn. So, if he falls and just kinda hits his knee, I say “Shake it off” and I help him shake. This of course causes him to laugh, which really helps get rid of any pain. The same applies for that stubbed toe, or hurt finger, etc. You get the idea.
Many times I add “bye bye owie!” But, when I do that Jairus doesn’t repeat me. He says “bye bye ant bite!” It doesn’t matter what the hurt is – he always says “bye bye ant bite.” I am serious. A hurt knee? Bye to ant bite. A hurt thumb? Bye to ant bite! Last fall he got a couple painful ant bites and I guess that made a BIG impression on him! He seems to think all boo-boo pain = ant bite!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A New First
Please notice the “marker” board in this picture. Everyday when the kids come into class, they move their personal marker from home to school. (as Jairus is doing here.) Then please note the 3 colored circles (not surprisingly green, yellow and red) at the top of 3 columns on the board. As one can surmise, those are warning spots. When a child has been disciplined, his/her marker gets moved into the next column.
Well, this week it happened. Jairus had his marker moved to green. Come to find out, he and his friend, Noah, were throwing a little bit of food at lunch. Thankfully, they both responded well to being corrected and made it through the rest of the day without incident. On the way home Jairus was able to talk through the situation with mommy and then again once daddy got home.
Joe and I both got a chuckle out of this. Not that Jairus got in trouble, but just the situation. Our little boy is a normal little boy. If only discipline would always be this easy! :)
Well, this week it happened. Jairus had his marker moved to green. Come to find out, he and his friend, Noah, were throwing a little bit of food at lunch. Thankfully, they both responded well to being corrected and made it through the rest of the day without incident. On the way home Jairus was able to talk through the situation with mommy and then again once daddy got home.
Joe and I both got a chuckle out of this. Not that Jairus got in trouble, but just the situation. Our little boy is a normal little boy. If only discipline would always be this easy! :)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
God is always working
God is always working. What a comforting thought.
God isn’t a creative cosmic being that is drinking lemonade as he watches humans on earth like it was just a movie. Nope. He is working and moving on behalf of his adoptive children. We are actually assured that God works all things out for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28) God is engaged in circumstances on earth. He is interested. He cares. God never sleeps. Psalms 121 verses 3-4 remind me that God won’t let my foot slip because He is watching me. God is not “slumbering” or sleeping. Instead, He is watching over me. God is always working.
Either at school or at church (or maybe both), sometime in the last couple weeks Jairus has heard the phrase “God is always working.” I know that because he has repeated it at least twice in conversations with me or his daddy. (I am pretty sure he didn’t come up with that phrase on his own…he is a mimicker.) But much to our surprise, Jairus said the phase with a negative connotation. And I am 100% sure that isn’t how it was used in the context he learned it.
The best example was last Sunday morning when we were pulling into church. Jairus and Joe were talking about how the church was God’s house. As we were getting out of the car Jairus said, “Yea, but God is always working.” (negative connotation)
That is when it hit me. Jairus has grown up with Joe working from home. And as a teacher, I often do work from home as well. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times he has heard us say “Jairus, I’m working” when he has requested a game, or a book, or to go outside, or….the list could go on and on. Not that we abuse him or he is neglected by any means. But, there are times when we can’t or don’t meet his immediate need. And what “excuse” or phrase do we use? “I’m working.” So, I figure that to Jairus, the idea of a God who is always working isn’t very appealing. I mean, who wants a God who is too busy for you? Who wants a God who has other things to do all the time?
This was just a good reminder that as parents, we have a huge impact on Jairus’ world view. How Jairus views God and his foundation of faith will be largely influenced by us. I am not afraid that we have scared him for life, or royally messed up. It was just a reminder, that is all.
And it made me thankful that we don’t have a God who is always working….that is too busy for us…that is distracted. Instead, we have a God who loves to listen to us, read books with us, spend time with us, and the list could go on and on!
God isn’t a creative cosmic being that is drinking lemonade as he watches humans on earth like it was just a movie. Nope. He is working and moving on behalf of his adoptive children. We are actually assured that God works all things out for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28) God is engaged in circumstances on earth. He is interested. He cares. God never sleeps. Psalms 121 verses 3-4 remind me that God won’t let my foot slip because He is watching me. God is not “slumbering” or sleeping. Instead, He is watching over me. God is always working.
Either at school or at church (or maybe both), sometime in the last couple weeks Jairus has heard the phrase “God is always working.” I know that because he has repeated it at least twice in conversations with me or his daddy. (I am pretty sure he didn’t come up with that phrase on his own…he is a mimicker.) But much to our surprise, Jairus said the phase with a negative connotation. And I am 100% sure that isn’t how it was used in the context he learned it.
The best example was last Sunday morning when we were pulling into church. Jairus and Joe were talking about how the church was God’s house. As we were getting out of the car Jairus said, “Yea, but God is always working.” (negative connotation)
That is when it hit me. Jairus has grown up with Joe working from home. And as a teacher, I often do work from home as well. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times he has heard us say “Jairus, I’m working” when he has requested a game, or a book, or to go outside, or….the list could go on and on. Not that we abuse him or he is neglected by any means. But, there are times when we can’t or don’t meet his immediate need. And what “excuse” or phrase do we use? “I’m working.” So, I figure that to Jairus, the idea of a God who is always working isn’t very appealing. I mean, who wants a God who is too busy for you? Who wants a God who has other things to do all the time?
This was just a good reminder that as parents, we have a huge impact on Jairus’ world view. How Jairus views God and his foundation of faith will be largely influenced by us. I am not afraid that we have scared him for life, or royally messed up. It was just a reminder, that is all.
And it made me thankful that we don’t have a God who is always working….that is too busy for us…that is distracted. Instead, we have a God who loves to listen to us, read books with us, spend time with us, and the list could go on and on!
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