// After repeating something multiple times and he still doesn't *hear* it, "how many times do I need to say it?" He replies, "five or six."
// After being reprimanded for something, he gets his angry face on and says, "shut..." stops for a millisecond then continues, "space shut.tles. my yellow man flies space shuttles."
// After hitting his sister in the face as she leaned down to kiss him, then hearing her expected scream he says, "ha-ha."
// After asking him why he's being so troublesome he says, "cause me no want shine Jesus."
These mini snapshots of life with my boy expose the ugly I'd love to hide. Alas, hiding the truth never did rid the truth of being true! (and a second with my boy exposes everything!) You've good reason to judge me. I do it daily! If I were a better mom, he'd behave differently. If I *did it right*, he wouldn't be so out of control. If I disciplined differently he'd sit still and be quiet like Perfect Angel over there. If my life were different, my boy would be different.
All these if's can't change reality. Exposed is the truth living in the dank shadows on the floor of our hearts. "me no want shine Jesus." We simply don't want to. We want our own way; some fight harder for it than others. We are defiant toward anyone telling us to behave differently; some gritting more stubbornly than others. We want to push others beneath ourselves to feel better about who we are; some more aggressively than others. Whatever the tactic or will-power growling beneath the surface, we each suffer from our pride. Without the hope of Jesus, it will be the death of each one of us.
In these days, when I feel I am failing with my son, I find great comfort in knowing my Daddy is as patient with me as He is asking me to be with my boy. I cling to the truth of a great work taking place in the dark of his heart. The same work Daddy is faithfully completing in me!
You may not be a mom, or even struggling in these type of circumstances. Fill in your own snapshots and *if's*. Where is pride growling beneath the surface for you?
May we each allow our pride to be smothered by the life-giving grace of Jesus!
