Loving God and Loving Others

A moment to think, that's all I need. Life happens at such a quick pace. I never mean to start my day like that. Things just happen. So, how do I make it not happen like that? Time to reflect, process, and think. That's what I need. I'm responding to life not intentionally. I'm responding to life not with my heart. I'm responding with my raw emotions. With what I think of at the moment. Not by the Spirit. Father, help me slow down. Help not to miss You in each moment. A snuggle with my son who's 10 who just came into my room while I was working just to give me a hug. To look at the butterfly my daughter doodled on her desk. To laugh over the post my son just got on his facebook. To make peanut butter cookies in the middle of a crazy day with youngest. Just because. I'm desperate to slow down. Desperate for a moment to think. Can I climb up in Your lap, Father? Can I just hear You say to me, I love you? You're calling me. I'm s

I read a quote recently that said, "grace based parents don't march, they dance." I have been thinking about that the past few days. What does it mean to dance? Sometimes it's easier to march. Following rules isn't a bad thing but the temptation is to fall in to legalism and judgmentalism that can take us away from grace. When my child disobeys me there is certainly a consequence but the way I respond to my child must be in grace. I must be committed to loving my child through the situation. It doesn't mean that there isn't truth spoken. But what does it mean to parent in grace? Each of my children are different. Their needs, their struggles, their motivations, their personalities, their issues are different. I need to be prayerful in the way I parent each of them. I need to seek God's heart for each of child. While it's important that I call sin, sin-  I need to also make sure that my discipline and correction of them is not only in truth but al