Reality Hits like a Ton of Bricks

What went through your minds, dear reader, when you read the title? ;OP

No, I'm not having second thoughts about homeschooling. Heh.

Not even when my supposed-to-be-in-P1 eldest son cannot yet do Singapore primary school year end papers. He got about 80 plus marks for English because we haven't covered open-ended comprehension and composition writing before (or anything, really). But that's another post about submitting marks to the MOE real soon, hence having to do local exam papers.

I'm not worried about that.

2 Corinthians 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

My dear husband and I were talking about our children the other night and we were talking about the time they can reach stand and handle the oven safely would be maybe the age of 10 or 11. And then it suddenly hit me that my dear firstborn was only 2 years away from reaching that age!

I had been focusing all my attention on my youngest not being a baby for long, I was cherishing my no. 4's baby ways that I know by now, fly by so quickly. But in doing that, I had forgotten that in the meanwhile, my eldest was also growing so fast right under my very nose!

I have parenting goals that I communicate to my children all the time. I tell them I want them to grow up to be men and women who will love God and serve Him where ever He puts them. I want them to grow to be strong and firm in their spirit. To grow to be wise and discerning.

The time of reckoning will come when my sons enter National Service when they turn 19 (if the Lord will and we shall live till that time- see James 4: 15 below). For my daughter, that time will perhaps be when she gets married. All the preparation that we've done during the time we had them as children will finally be put to the test in the exam hall of life.

For my eldest who is turning 8 real soon, it occurred to me in a BIG way that night, our time is halfway up!!!

Yes, I know that how our children respond to the Lord is really very personal between that child and God Himself. But I have these nagging doubts: have I done my best to be this child's mother? have I prayed enough for them individually? have I majored on the majors and minored on the minors?

But I do not intend to wonder about that and cry but to fix my heart, renew my spirit to do more and love each precious child He has given me individually and cherish the time we have together as a family.

How short our lives are and how we really need to be focused and prioritize where we spend our feeble energies!

James 4:14- 15 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

But praise be to God who gives us joy and much returns for our labours when we do things in His will.

Psalms 90:17  And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Comments

[HsKubes]

Great post!
I think about this often as I see my children growing up so quickly. When I see our eldest is approaching 15! Our only son is 9. Beth just turned 5 and our 'baby' is approaching 4. It sure does fly by so fast. I pray I will redeem the time that He has given me with them and that I will answer His call to train them up in the way they should go (Prov.22:6).
Thank you for the admonition and reminder.

~ Christina

And 'Happy Birthday' to your lil' sweetie!

[Suwei]

Hi Christina! Thanks so much for adding your various thoughts. From what I see on your blog, your children are just wonderful blessings, a sweet smelling savour to the Lord. Keep up the good work! :O)