A Parent's Love

As I nag my children for the umpteenth time about doing their chores, it occurs to me how much time we spend as parents focusing on the things that need doing and not so much on the things that are done so well and yet not recognized. So for my sweet kids, thanks for the following:

Elise- Thanks for bringing sunshine into our family. Your smiles are contagious and your laugh is beautiful.

Matthew- Thanks for the questions. I have never answered so hard and thought provoking questions as the ones that you ask. Contemplating the universe with you is fun.

Ashlynn- Thanks for being organized. Organized with your homework and organized around the house. I can't count the number of times that you cleaned out the refrigerator or the pantry just exactly at the moment that I was ready to blow it up with a stick of dynamite.

Jameson- Thanks for the forgiveness. At sixteen, you understand that your parents are imperfect and unfortunately, will stay that way for the next millennium or so. Yet, you love us still.

Things that I have learned from my kids:

Elise- Life is meant to be enjoyed even when it stinks. Sometimes laughing and enjoying family is more important than having a perfectly clean house. I can imagine that Elise's house may not be the cleanest on the block but her kids will have fun creating a play in the family room.

Matthew- Doing the right thing is not complicated. You just do it. Life is about learning all that we can about those things that make us better people. Our talents are meant to be shared one with another. In fact, God gave us our talents to help each other.

Ashlynn- Parents are sometimes given the gift of seeing themselves as they were when they were children. Ashlynn, you are that child for me. The things that are hard for you were hard for me too (math, unkind people, injustice). The things that you find delight in (friendship, life's littlest details, order, and sleep =) are my delight too. Your also you own person in so many ways and mysteries that I am just figuring out.

Jameson- Time? What's that? Ever since Jameson was little, he has functioned on a schedule entirely of his own making and is at his most happy when he is ignoring the clock. He reminds me how easily I get caught up in earth's clock while he is meandering to eternity's clock. He reminds me that we are not expected to accomplish all right now. He reminds me that our best is sometimes just breathing and getting through the curves that life likes to throw us.

I could not have asked for four children more perfect for Jim and myself. Our children have taught us far more than we have taught them. Our children balance out our weaknesses and teach us that at the end of the day the most important thing that we have accomplished is the love that we have as a family.