Training a child - Proverbs 22:6

I felt like a good mom today. But I also felt guilty for leaving my baby toddler this evening so I could go conduct a rehearsal at church. I'm not sure that feeling will ever go away.

Anyway, I felt like a good mom today because I stumbled across this gem in one of those rare moments of reading my Bible. (Yes, it should happen more often. It doesn't because I'm so freakin' tired all the time. It's not an excuse, it's an explanation.) Proverbs 22:6 - "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." That gem, in partnership with a dear friend's advice, inspired me to start looking at the habits and good character traits that I want my son to employ when he's older. And it made me start seeing him as truly a toddler rather than a baby that just doesn't know better.

Brag Book: My 18 month old son identified his colors today, pulling the correct colored crayons from a mixed bag. He actually had to search for the red one when I asked him to use red!! Genius. Brag book done.

It made me realize that he's learning so much and he's becoming so much more than...being a baby, if that makes sense. It's time to start training his character in addition to his habits. (By habits, I'm referring to eating and sleeping. SLEEPING!)

Pause there.

Yesterday evening, I attended a book signing for a teacher/author named Rafe Esquith. Rafe has been teaching at a low income inner city elementary school for 30 years. He's a good teacher. His one word of advice? Be the person you want your students to be.

Unpause.

Be the person you want your child to be.

So basically, I've put 2 and 2 together today. I need to continue to take care of myself and continue to grow in my own character in order to train up my son in a holy and pleasing-to-the-Lord kind of way.

I'm excited. I'm inspired. I'm deeply challenged.
I hope this speaks to you as much as it speaks to me. This applies to both my work life and my home life. This applies to what my friend Glennon Melton calls, "my capital L Life".

This isn't over. I just heard that this week's sermon at church is on "Being Present". I'm pretty sure this will apply to this post. I just haven't put it all together yet. I'll update once I give it some more thought.

Until then, goodnight! I'm starting tomorrow off on a new schedule, a disciplined one for myself - and for my family!
Love,
-D