Meditation of My Heart

Adolescence is described as a period or stage of development preceding maturity. Recently I heard statistics that point to the fact that adolescence is not ending at 18, 19 or 20. We have begun to see adolescence clear into the 30s. This idea was foreign a few generations ago. Teenage years were a time of apprenticeship and beginning of responsibility.  Girls were married at 14,15 or 16 and society thought nothing of it. Why? Their period of development preceding maturity was a child. They expected more of them by the time they became teens.  Maturity is not a black and white moment defined by reaching a certain age. Maturity is the achieving a certain level of character that defines you as trustworthy. Maturity is having self-control. Self-control to do what you need to and refrain from those things you don't.  I have noticed a lack in teaching children to be mature. The Bible says even a child is known by their doings. I fear that we are going to s...

Spring! The time for planting. Have you ever planted a small tree? It needs extra protection. Many times you will see a fence around it to protect it from nibbling animals. Often it will have a stake next to it to support it. It just needs the time to establish the roots. It is unable to protect itself or weather the disasters, natural or man-made, that happen to come along. I couldn't help but think how that reminds me of being a parent. It is my job to shelter my kids until they have deep enough roots to weather life's storms. I am to protect them just as God protects us. 1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. He doesn't give us more than we can handle. When a tree is small the fence covers almost all of it, as it grows the branches start to ...

I was thinking about a sermon I recently listened to by Voddie Baucham. He was talking about brokenness in the life of a believer. I was considering his point about remembering who we were to point to God who brought us from there. How many times I have blown it .... and I mean really blown it as a parent. Some memories that I cringed at and felt so guilt ridden because of my sin in dealing with my kids. Oh how I wished I could change it or at the least forget it!!! Yet, now I look at those memories in a new light. What a wretch I was! But how great God is !!!! He has taken me so far. He has changed who I am. Only God could take a wretch like me and do anything with her. I have a wonderful relationship with my kids. Thanks be to God and Him alone. I see those times of total rebellion, self centeredness and immaturity and how far I have come. God has taken the years stolen and given them back ten fold. I can look back and now rejoice. I can see God's goodness, God's grace and Go...

My oldest, Portia, turned 20 today. It is incredible to realize it has been this long since I first held her in my arms. Where did the years go? As I cuddled Benjamin in my arms today and think how far away 20 years seems, I realize it is just a blink. It won't be long until diapers give way to bicycles and bicycles to cars. It sure makes me wish I could hold the days a little tighter. Happy Birthday my beautiful daughter. May you cherish each moment completely for when it is gone it is gone.  May I hold my kids a little tighter today, squeeze them and smell their hair, listen to the giggles and nonsensical banter with contentment. May I touch their hands and contemplate their softness and may I read with them, play with them and laugh with them. May we make the memories we will hold on to because that is all I will have left of today.