what do i wish? what do i hope?.....

what kind of things do i wish for??
what specifically do i pray for for these dear boys?

today, while watching my boys play at the park, i got to thinking,"what do i wish for them?" i mean, really, really want for them to accomplish in this life. what do we as parents hope that they 'take' out of their childhood? now,let's really think about this......

this post is to them. this is what i wish for you, my boys.

do i wish you to always be happy?
i do but i also want you to realize that isn't reality. life is going to be unhappy some days. there are times when i, as your mother, want to lock you up at home and keep you from what is lurking in the shadows of this world. however, if i protect you from everything when you're little, what are you going to expect from life in the real world? do i want you to be happy? of course. doesn't every parent party inside when they see their children smile and laugh? yup,a party happens in my heart everyday. i want you to experience JOY, not necessarily being happy. there's a big difference, ya know? there are lots of days when i don't FEEL happy but in my heart, i have JOY. as an adult, i know that bad times are going to come and go, so i have JOY knowing that most of the crappy things i experience, will pass. i want you,my boys, to experience that. i want you to know that although you don't always FEEL happy, there is JOY. real, pure JOY in life comes from knowing that you serve a God that is bigger than any circumstance that may temporarily make you unhappy.

i hope that you show grace. show it especially to people that don't deserve it. it's the hardest kind of grace to show but it's always the most rewarding. forgive easily.


we talk a lot about choices over here at our house. you have choices in most everything. do you have a choice in whether or not you go to bed at 8:00? nope. brush your teeth everyday? nope. change your underwear in the morning? nope, no choice there but you do have a choice in making the best of things, even when you'd rather not do them. you have a choice in whether or not you're going to punch the kid on the playground who just called you a girl. you have a choice to talk about others behind their back or not. you have a choice whether or not, you're going to be the one kid that stands up for the 'underdog'. you always have a choice on whether or not, you're going to take the 'high road' and be the bigger person.
here's the biggest choice out there, you have a choice to follow Jesus or follow Satan. you choose. there are a million choices that we make every day. it is my prayer that you make wise choices. it may not always make you the most popular (it usually won't!)or the most liked. it may not always make you HAPPY but i'm here to tell you, it'll bring you the most JOY.

shortly after each of you boys were born,daddy and i started praying for good, Godly spouses for you. my parents did it and God answered that prayer. be picky in choosing a spouse. prayerful consider the 'long run'. looks come and go but true character will stand the test of time.we pray that some girl will come along and love you like we do. we pray that she'll be committed, with you for a lifelong marriage. we pray for girls that are Godly, above all else.

i wish for you kindness. be kind. always.

i wish for lots of laughter in your life. hoping you will keep your sense of humor in all things. we have funny, funny children (it's my blog. i can say that). i pray that circumstances in life won't keep you from laughing at yourselves. it's good medicine for the soul.

i wish for you, good friends. friends that will lift you UP, not down. friends that won't make fun of you for making an unpopular choice. friends that will respect you. friends that love Jesus.

i hope you realize that mom and dad love you more than i can even put into words here. you are a gift from God. we treasure you.

i hope that you realize how important family is. you don't see it now but i pray that someday you will realize how blessed you are to have each other. it does my heart good when i see you sticking up for one another. i hope that never ends. i tell you often, friends come and go but your brothers are 'blood'. you can't replace those relationships. guard them.

most importantly, choose Jesus. it's the ONLY decision is life that matters. in 100 years from now, nothing else will. that's the ONLY thing that lasts for eternity. as humans, it's hard to wrap our minds around that but it's true. NOTHING is more important than that. i pray that you not only follow Him but be a light in this world for HIM. stand out as someone who makes every choice that is pleasing to HIM. that little ones, will bring you pure JOY!