It has been a pure blessing to witness my 6 year old, Harry,
growing in various ways of late. On Friday, at his swimming lesson, he swam a
whole width of the pool without any aid for the first time. As he climbed out
of the pool and jumped excitedly around, he turned and saw his mother doing
exactly the same in the viewing gallery :) On Saturday as we went for a family
walk around Virginia Water lake, with Harry on his bike, it was a pleasure to
see him able to cycle up the inclines that previously have defeated him,
witness to the fact that God is causing his muscles to grow stronger.
Yesterday his Postal Bible School lesson arrived, and he was
so excited to see that he has moved up a level in the worksheets he is given to
complete. This is proving to be a great way for him to learn more of the Bible,
he is so motivated by the fact that he has to send away his answers to be
marked, and then receives his very own personal letter in the post with his
marked work and the next worksheet.
I have especially been blessed by the books we have been
able to share together at bedtime of late. Just before Christmas I asked my
friends for some ideas of good children’s books. And so we have been reading RC Sproul’s children’s books and are now going through Grandpa’s Box. These are
proving to be wonderful books, and as Harry grows in his understanding of the
Bible, it is a joy to see him starting to piece the threads together of the
great theme of redemption running throughout the Bible.
Another area where Harry has grown, one that I wouldn’t have
chosen myself, is in dealing with brokenness in the world. A mother’s instincts
are to protect her child from such things. But I’m mulling over these words of
a friend: “It's only natural to want to
protect our children from suffering, but it's far more realistic and
spiritually responsible to prepare them for suffering, starting with teaching
them of the sovereignty of God.” I am beyond thankful that my Sovereign God
holds my son in His hands and that every situation and circumstance that comes
his way I know God is using for His Glory’s sake.
So for all the areas in which Harry is growing, there is
only one area of growth that really matters to me, and this is growth not in his head knowledge,
but in his heart, where I can merely sow seeds and pray that my tears offered on
his behalf to God will be used by Him to water the seeds as He makes them grow –
growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him
be glory both now and for ever. Amen! (2
Peter 3:18).
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This is just beautiful Diana. I can see little Harry just swimming away, and a happy Mom cheering him on. I love Harry and I love you, your prayers for his growth and God's mercy and grace in his life are so touching..I love you my friend, and I love Jesus who shines so brightly in your life. Blessings to you and yours today my Mate, love you loads!
ReplyDelete"...there is only one area of growth that really matters to me, and this is growth not in his head knowledge, but in his heart, where I can merely sow seeds and pray that my tears offered on his behalf to God will be used by Him to water the seeds as He makes them grow."
ReplyDeleteAmen.
And what's more, God knows the language of the water of your motherly tears.
-E
Love you too, T, my mate, God bless you ♥
ReplyDeleteE - Ruth has been reminding me these last couple of weeks of what you'd said on Facebook a few months back which I quoted above in my post. Thanks for sharing your godly, motherly wisdom with us. ♥
Beautiful post, Diana.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to see our kids endure suffering, but our Heavenly Father knows better than this earthly mother. What He works in a life as a result makes it all worth it.
“It's only natural to want to protect our children from suffering, but it's far more realistic and spiritually responsible to prepare them for suffering, starting with teaching them of the sovereignty of God.”
ReplyDeleteBrilliant.