Big Blessings From Little Things

Each of my children are so very different. Where there's one who is interested in reading, there is another who doesn't care much for it. Where there is one who is interested in making sure not one ounce of bad bacteria lives in the kitchen and bathrooms, there is another interested in baking every sweet thing in the Joy of Cooking cookbook. This morning, I experienced opposites in a way that completely blessed my heart.

As we watched snow fall, my boys (ages 4, 7, and 12) got a notion to go outside on their first lesson break. I watched the excitement grow as they talked about tossing the football in the falling snow. My oldest son was probably the most excited about playing football in the snow but it didn't take long before he was able to draw the other two boys into his excitement.

Before our lessons were underway, I made my usual speech about sitting and listening attentively to earn their break after the lesson. Everyone sat up eagerly awaiting the lesson with great anticipation of going outside. Sure enough, about halfway into our lesson, I had to give my seven year old his first warning. Two minutes after, there came a first warning to my four year old and, within a twenty minute period, I had to take the break away from both boys.

Oh how my seven year old cried. I explained to him why I had to take away his break and he continued to whine in protest to my decision. He became more adamant that he didn't deserve the punishment and that he would never get to go outside. Quickly, I assured him that he was on his way, early, to losing any opportunity for the second break. The crying continued. On the other hand, my four year old looked at his older brother with a smile and said, "Well, Jordan, at least we have a chance to go outside the next break." He sat up with a bright smile and looked over at me.

What a refreshing opposite that was. Sometimes we need to have someone give us a brighter side to look at. We can get so wrapped up into the way things may look that we forget to see what good there is around the corner. I'm so thankful for these little boys. It's such a blessing that their differences can be such a blessing to one another, and even to the hearts of their mother.