Oh my precious little boy...


The other day, I told my youngest son at dinner that if he didn't eat it, he would have it for breakfast. Well at that time he was ok with it...til morning came and he saw it waiting for him on the table. Now mind you, my son doesn't like to eat anything else other than Mac n Cheese and chicken tenders. I'm trying to broaden my little guys pallet thus, having to eat whatever we eat (usually never anything weird ya know).

Well he was taking 15 minutes per bite. Take that times 9, I was going to be late for work and them for school (I have 2 boys, 7 and 10). I put this before him "If you don't finish this right now, you will #1, get a spanking (which for him he's only had like 2 his whole life), #2 get beary taken away (his favorite little bear he sleeps with) and #3, you'll have this for dinner AGAIN tonight. You would think all those things would get him to eat faster....OH NO, not this stubborn little one. Almost like it was an old western, with him and I on opposite ends, waiting to draw (you could hear the old west music in the background and everything). Came down to the time, and he wasn't finished. I don't even think he picked up the pace at all. So, as hard as it was, I had to follow through with all the threats I had made earlier (and when I made them, I really didn't think I was going to follow through with them ya know). I took him into my room, pleading with him, explaining that if he would've just ate his food last night at dinner, and even again right now, none of this would have to take place...then I spanked him. I hate doing that, especially when your son looks back up at you, tears in his eyes gasping for air saying he felt like he just got shot with a shot gun. I felt awful. I love him so much, and then Satan was right there "What kind of mother are you really!! You're expectations are too high, you're a horrible mom and you're going to push your children away from you". Ohhh, he sure knows what buttons to push.

Got to school, and just before I said good bye to my boys, I told Garret that I loved him very very much. He told me "I love you too mom" with the utmost sincerity. Felt better, knowing that the devil was a liar (of course) and I'm not pushing my boys farther away, but in fact I'm helping them to grow up and understand cause and effect, consequences. Just like our Father God doesn't want to discipline us but because of our actions, it's needed. But He's always right there, loving us all the more never changing how He feels about us. Even though I had to discipline my little guy, I loved him all the more and it never changed. Through all this, the devil wanted to tear me down and not hold Garret to the consequences, and if I would've given in it would've made it harder for both of us to understand God's love in all of this. I wouldn't have seen it from God's perspective for me (and why in hard times I question God's love for me) and Garret wouldn't have learned that his actions have results, good and bad.

So be encouraged today, know the Devil is a liar and God is always faithful to finish this work in us.

P.S - Garret did finally eat all the chicken that night and joined us for pizza after. :)