There he stood.
My spitfire of a four year old named Elijah. This is the same Elijah who days early tried to bite the Christmas tree just because he wanted to see what it tasted like. I had relented and let him stand up front with the rest of his preschool class as they practiced for our church’s Christmas program. Last week, ah last week, it ended poorly — with me removing him because he was squirming so incredibly much and simply not listening.
I let him try again.
As I sat back in the chair, holding Samuel, I watched him. His little body, wiggling around, but trying to be like a statue momma. Then when the kids sang he moved his mouth, up and down and up and down, pretending to sing Joy to the World. {His older brothers told him if he didn’t know the words to just pretend and move your mouth.} And then, it was time for the lines. Down the row, each child said their line, and my spitfire Elijah stood last. I just waited. And watched.
It was time.
Of course, Elijah forgot his line, and had to be reminded. But, then once the spitfire of mine heard the line he belted out in his loudest voice, a voice that carried into the narthex,
Jesus is MINE!
I looked at him — at him standing there proud of his loud voice — and I loved him. The love I had for him washed over me — love that was a love uniquely for him. God made him who he is — with the silly faces he makes, and loud voice, and incredible energy. Those things that I work so hard to tame in him are exactly the things that someday will make him a powerful man for the Lord.
So I must be careful. It’s all too easy to define based on the things that we see as potential flaws. Yes, he was wiggly, and yes, he lip-synced to Joy to the World, but also yes, he proudly proclaimed truth about Jesus.
Sometimes, sometimes, I need to sit back and not shush him and let him be who the Lord is molding him to be. Now, of course, there needs to be the obvious boundaries established, but it’s also becoming more and more impressed upon my heart to begin to see those passionate areas in each of my children as not something to be necessarily snuffed out but perhaps, something instead to be cultivated and molded.
Let him shout Jesus is Mine in a church full of people. We need more people willing to be brave and shout truth. And often, it’s those spirited, energy-filled, little spitfires who will grow to be passionate in proclaiming truth about Jesus.
I am proud of him.
I’m linking with my sweet friend Carissa today for miscellany monday. 🙂
15 comments
I have one of those! :0) Thanks for this article!
Oh, if more of us would be so bold as to stand up and shout, “Jesus is Mine!” in rooms full.
This is beautiful. Love… “I need to sit back and not shush him and let him be who the Lord is molding him to be.” This line is so true – in so many things in our lives. Just let things be who they are.
I have been having much the same thoughts about my more “challenging” child. This post affirmed much of what has been placed on my heart lately!
Rachel, I needed to hear this. Thank you. Often I find myself in the shoes of your son, lip-sinking to the lyrics of my life– because I am so lost. It is comforting to see the great and unconditional love you have for your son be a parallel to mine with my Lord. Thank you for reminding me that what is most important in the end is that I proclaim that “Jesus is mine”.
In Christ,
precious boy!!!! i love him! he’s so cute and sweet. i remember my teacher friend telling me once that her favorite students were not the best ones – the ones that were wiggly and squirmy were. : ) oh, and hunter has tried to taste the christmas tree, too. glad he’s not the only crazy boy. ha!
When my oldest daughter was about 2-1/2 she loved to kiss the Christmas tree. Then because it was prickly she would scrunch up her face, then laugh. She loved the tree.
How cute and won’t it be fun to see how the Lord uses him. I bet great things are in store!
This was so encouraging, since I have a couple of squirmy, squirrely spitfires of my own. When they really grab ahold of Jesus, watch out world!
great way to look at things, thanks for sharing! I don’t want to get in the way of how the Lord is molding my children, thanks for posting this 🙂
well I have a very very very busy 15 month old who is ripping all the Christmas lights off the tree and sucked on one yesterday and said”MMMMMMM”..
My 6 yo has severe ADHD and I am very careful about not “shooshing” him too much. Like you said there is a time and place and boundries. He talked for a full 30 min about his escape plan in case of a fire in our house. How he would save his baby brother. this is a story we here alot. He had a captive audience. The other kids were sleeping. My DH and I could have asked him to stop talking as we needed time to talk. We realized however our son had this nervous energy and HE needed to talk.
Bless your little boy! My son yelled something very loud the other day when he saw smoke pollution coming out of a smoke stack..he said ” why would anyone pollute God’s Creations?” LOVE IT!!! LOL
I have a spitfire! 🙂 I have to keep reminding myself that what I often see as stubbornness can be transformed into perseverance, and passion can be directed!
I am proud of him too! Out of the mouth of babes as they say:). Plus I think when Jesus said, “let the little children come to me for the kingdom belongs to such as these,” he got that kids get him better than us adults most of the time. They are simple, trusting and believe so innocently. Pure hearts. So so sweet. My little girl belted out a hearty AYYY MMEEEENN in church the other day and I was giggling so loud afterwards. I was so thankful that I was at least at the back of church. hahahaha. Merry Christmas to you friend!
Keep yelling it out, Elijah! And it’s okay to squirm! But biting the tree? Maybe not so much…
Praying right now.
Psalms 9:9-10 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
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What beautiful wisdom in regards to parenting… “to see those passionate areas in each of my children as not something to be necessarily snuffed out but perhaps, something instead to be cultivated and molded.” To strive to encourage rather than tame. I pray I remember this when I have children… blessings to you and your lovely family! 🙂