Being sick will make you truly see the fruit of parenting

Being ill stinks! I’ve been bedridden since Monday with some delightful virus and all I can do is count my blessings.

Japanese Cherry Blossom body cream (I try to use Ebates when buying from Bath and Body Works), my EOS lip balm and I hate to admit it, my sweet tea from Chick-Fil-A are my newest friends who don’t leave my side. I haven’t had sugar in forever and just needed a this one drink. I sound like a person who needs to go to AA SWA – Sweet Tea Anonymous. <Insert laughter here!> I love being a part of the #ChickFilAMoms – it gives me a reason for my habit. But, after this week – I will need a sugar detox.

My eldest daughter, who is a born teacher – took up my slack in homeschooling. I could hear her in the other room reading to her younger siblings about King James. He wasn’t the most gracious man and I could hear them talking among themselves agreeing about what a man who wasn’t very kind yet made an historical feat with the King James Bible. Just the discussion alone, made my heart leap. I love that they were able to carry on a conversation about a piece of history and give their insights liberally.

I want my kids to learn and have a genuine love for learning. To see their little heads fill up with useless trivia is not my objective. I want them to experience life as a Berean – to study things out for themselves and not follow the pack. I want them to understand why cultures clash. I want them to be able to spread the Word of God with a relevance to each culture or nation with a kindness like our Lord bestows. I want them to love the Lord with their whole heart, knowing that when they fail (and they will, who doesn’t?), the Father already knows and loves them regardless. I want them grow with character, stature, and love for everyone.

This week, I was able to sit back and see fruit of my years of labor.

I didn’t have a choice.

I was truly knocked down and was incapable of being the teacher, mom, wife and friend that is my normal routine. I had fever of over 104, I couldn’t talk or swallow, my body ached and I just needed total rest.

Just now, I am truly seeing all the things that my family has done…

My hubby has made a THM menu and is grocery shopping tonight. The other kids are likewise amazing – making sure I’m hydrated, emptying my trash and giving me the mail. I am talking “spoiled.” Even when they had a disagreement (see they are real), they kept it quiet and called their Dad on the phone. I had no idea. That my friends, is the cherry on the Hot Fudge chocolate sundae. I capitalized the Hot Fudge on purpose. It makes me rejoice even though it is not proper grammar.

I went into the living room and it is extraordinary clean. Having a clean living room – especially dusted, makes me want to sing like Mary Poppins.

These kids, who I have poured every ounce of my energy into, are now pouring into me. I hear them laughing in the other room – and it just warms my heart to the very core.