Life Lessons from the Cat

Saturday, Wes came into the house with our indoor/outdoor cat Peanut. And Peanut was NOT happy! He is a feisty little guy and can seriously have attitude. Peanut wanted to be outside. He howled at the door, jumped on Wes' leg and carried on terribly!!! What in the world was going on?

Roadkill. Yep, a squirrel was dead in the middle of the road and Peanut was eating it. Gross I know, but that is cat behavior. Wes found him there and a truck slowed down to avoid hitting him. So, the cat came in while my son had roadkill cleanup duty. (The rest of the story is the cat later went out and found the squirrel, finishing his delectable feast).

All Wes was trying to do was save Peanut. All Peanut knew was that Wes was keeping him from the one thing he wanted most at that moment. And, there was no way that he was ever going to understand that Wes was truly doing the most loving thing he could for him.

The kids and I had a great life discussion. Parents are like that sometimes too! We do what we can to protect and love our kids while all they see is the thing that they want is beyond their grasp. And, of course, aren't we like that with our Heavenly Father as well?

What is it that you've most been desiring lately? God is your Father and is crazy about you. Perhaps we should hand it over to him and acknowledge that "His ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts than our thoughts." Who knows? Maybe we'll actually be exchanging dead meat for a heavenly banquet.

Those Wonderful AHA Moments

I often go though my days and miss the growth that the kids have. And then, there are these moments that happen which make me alive with gratitude to the Father~the kids are growing!!

Yesterday Wes decided to get out our game cube. We put it up because it consumed the kids thinking. They asked to play it all the time, fought over who got to pick the game, how much time they got, and on and on. We haven't had that thing out in MONTHS. So, today, the children asked about playing it. They took turns after all their work was done. They didin't exceed their alloted time. In one instance, they even turned it off on their own. They didn't nag me about it at all. And, since it's pouring here, you'd think they'd be all over that thing. But, they've found other things to do instead.

For instance, Wes looked up some information on Jupiter's moons and voluntarily wrote a bit about one of them. Maddie played some board games with Tyler that dealt with money management decisions. They watched an educational program on prehistoric animals. And, they actually said they might as well do their housecleaning today, so I have a mopped kitchen floor, and vacuumed den and hallway.

No, not every day is like that. But, I truly enjoy these glimpses I get when the Father seems to lift back the veils of heaven, shows me a bit, and whispers in my ear. Something like, "See? It may not be easy but it's worth it." And, it gives me hope that someday I may get to hear him say "Well Done."

Until then, I keep on. And, am grateful for the reminder that I too am growing as long as I hold onto to him. And just maybe, even though I don't see it, someone else might. And, may glorify God because of it.

An Often Overlooked Part of Education

Last week we had the privilege of going to the beach with my husband's parents, sister and her husband. I know, someone who doesn't like the sand spent two weeks at the beach this year! During the end of the day, my sister in law and I were talking about how important it is to raise our children so we reach their hearts, not just change outward behaviors. And, how hard that is. But if we don't do that, we never really get to know ourselves, or let others see us for who we really are.

That struck a chord with me because I've been there. I used to try to be the idea of the pastor's wife, outgoing personality, perfect fill in the blank, that everyone wanted me to be. Yet, as I've allowed God to love me, fill me with joy and reveal himself to me, I've begun to embrace the real Cheri. More introverted, needing time for contemplation, etc. And, I've found that I am less anxious about things because I know who I am and what I need to refuel my tank, so to speak. Which makes giving to others so much easier.

So, one of my goals with homeschooling is to help my children experience Christ's love in such a way that their hearts are touched and they become the people they created them to be. How do I do this? Through prayer to my Heavenly Father. After all, he made them and knows them. And, he can show me who they are too. And that's part of the adventure of living the educational life together.