I’ve been pretty hesitant to say that the children are more emotional than normal, but I finally agreed with myself that they are.

Some of the emotion is from fatigue. Company is fun but uses a lot of energy. (even family where I can truly be myself and not feel like I have to entertain or have an image to uphold– Tom and Martha know me that well.)

Some of the emotion is because they are missing Daddy.

Regardless of why, I’ve found that instead of threats of punishment, they need more tender mercies at night– longer hugs, more time talking, more time praying with them. They have been responding to that, and I’m grateful for God’s grace in my life to see those needs.

I’m realizing that I am best able to parent when I am most content in my relationship with the Creator God.

I found some Piper sermons on Christianaudio.com (free) that I downloaded last week. One that has been a blessing to me has been “The Fight for Joy.” I’ve listened to it a number of times, and it has been an encouragement. (I love the discussion on patience, a fruit of sleep.) In this sermon, he referenced a passage in Micah, so this morning I spent some time reading there. This passage was challenging:

“O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!
⁴For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
⁵O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the LORD.”

⁶ “With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
⁸He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:3-8

In verse 3, you can almost hear the grief in God’s voice as he questions his people, How have I not satisfied you? What did I do to receive your rejection? It’s convicting to me, because so often, I am not truly satisfied and content with Christ alone. Thankfully, God’s requirements are few. I am grateful that he is a God who is merciful.

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