A Dose of Hope for the Weary

The end of the first week of school draws near, and Owen is sent to his room. Again. (For hitting his sister.) (Again.)

I open his bedroom door, compelled to scoop him up into my lap. He struggles at first, but I hold tight and whisper in his ear.

As I speak, he relaxes into my embrace, and I realize these words are perhaps what he’s been fighting for all along:

“I am SO PROUD of you, son. What a big week you’ve had. You are SO BRAVE. I know there’s so much to learn and figure out. And I know you’re feeling kind of tired. But you’re doing a REALLY GREAT JOB. And I’m SO VERY PROUD OF YOU.”

Tough exterior dissolved, he hugs me back and nestles his face into my neck. No words are needed. I can feel it emanating from him: That’s all I needed to hear. And I didn’t even know it.

Beyond any doubt, I know it’s God’s gracious love spilling forth as I express love to my son – because trust me, my NATURAL response to Owen’s feisty behavior is NOT a tender embrace.

And His love continues spilling over even now. For YOU.

HE SEES YOU TOO.

Did you send your kids to school this week? Or are you with them right now, homeschooling? Or did you kiss them goodbye at daycare? Or are you home with littles too little for school at all?

To each of you, hear this – from me, but ultimately from Him:

I am SO PROUD of you.

You are SO BRAVE.

I know there’s so much to learn and figure out.

And I know you’re feeling kind of tired.

But you’re doing a REALLY GREAT JOB.

And I’m SO VERY PROUD OF YOU.

“May the Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
–2 Thessalonians 2:16,17