Was this a powerful lesson the Lord showed me this week!!!! Yes, I did know that children model what they see, for all you who are thinking...wow, she didn't know that? Here's the story...
I have been an horrible example to my kids with filling the gas tank. I am one of those girls who ride on the "shining light". When I do stop I never have time to fill up either. I will put 2 dollars in the tank and keep rolling! There have been times when 2 bucks was all I had though, so you gotta do what you gotta do.
Anyways, we have on occasion left the house and I have told Nathan and Isaiah that they need to pray we make it to the gas station. I have done it when their friends were in the car too! My kids have comforted their friends and told them we never run out and that I do it all the time! So sad! Has taught them how to minister to those who are fearful though! Some of them have told me that their moms, do the same and others have super moms who keep the tanks full! You go girls!!!!
Well, Tuesday night my phone rings, I was not in the room so Willie answered because he saw it was Isaiah who has recently started driving. I hear a desperate (not happy) call for my name. Willie says, "that was YOUR son he ran out of gas." Can I say the Marine was not happy!
I called Isaiah back got more details. I had given him cash earlier to get gas too so I was really confused, then worried that he was stranded. You know I gave him all the dos and don'ts....lock the doors, stay in the car, do not get out until we get there...and don't roll down the window for anyone and keep the hazards on. My goodness he was on 9A!
I pretty much stayed on the phone with him until the upset Marine got there(gave him a pep talk before he left). Isaiah was telling me how he thought he could make it, but then...the car just stopped. Oh boy, I knew I had modeled a very unhealthy behavior. Wow, what a lesson for me!
The Lord really dealt with me about it. My son has seen me do this for YEARS! He was attempting to make it like I have always done...with the money in his pocket. I realized I had not been a good example in this area. I did feel bad...because I thought about it and realized I had modeled a behavior that actually could have put him in danger. Thanks that could is our Protector.
The next day, I apologized to Isaiah for setting such a bad example. Parents, our children are watching us and will do what they see us do. We need to examine what we do, what we say and realize they will practice what you do....not what you preach.
Let's model...a life of godliness. Let's be the examples of Christ they need in their lives. May they see a parent that not only loves God but has a life dedicated to following Him! Please do not live a sloppy life as a believer before them. Let them see a life of godliness and watch them model that!
I gotta get that gas thing under control! love ya all!!!!
written as Facebook note on Saturday, March 7th.
Lele
It's me!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Are You Serious?
Hey, this is a crazy story! Friday morning Willie gave Isaiah a huge check so he could pick up his class room...he had whined about it all week! The check was written. We could not wait to see our investment that evening!
About 1 o'clock my phone rang. It was a hang up from Isaiah...then rang again..hang up. I called back ...could hear talking. First thought something bad going down at school. Then hang up....Finally, Isaiah calls back screaming in the phone....ARE YOU SERIOUS...ARE YOU KIDDING ME...ARE YOU SERIOUS...MY CLASS RING JUST WENT DOWN THE DRAIN....Needless to say I am in shock...thinking at first it is a joke...then...how do I tell Willie....We had just had a discussion in my office that we were going to have to cut back on entertainment because we forgot about the ring balance. Isaiah is still screaming...CALL HERFF JONES, CALL THE SCHOOL...CALL SOMEBODY!
I hang up the phone knowing I must tell Willie...yikes..he is gonna flip!!! The kid has only had the ring 4 hours and it is gone. So I dial Willie, "Willie don't get upset...please don't lose it because Isaiah is already upset enough...the class ring just went down the drain. He says, what was it doing off his finger..." I don't know Willie but he is very upset." His response in the strangest voice,"Okay....bye." We hang up the phone.
I call the school and of course there is nothing they can do...but put in a request on a Friday to the Duval County Public school who probably can't come out until next week.
Okay now my stomach is getting sick...I figure the best thing to do is go get Isaiah because I know he is not focusing and won't accomplish a thing. I call a few friends ask them to pray. I call Willie and tell him I am going to the school. I get there and Isaiah is in an assembly...when he finds out I am there he just walks out...exactly why I went to get him because he was going to get himself in trouble because he was upset.
I told him that he just needed to get in the car and cry! I knew he hadn't cried at school, he's 16 and it would have ruined his reputation of course. Yes, crying always makes you feel better even if you are a guy. I will not mention what happened in the car...but after about 20 minutes I think he felt better.
At the school I realized how insensitive adults can be....I mean every official there made him feel like crap...it was actually ridiculous. They were getting him even more upset. Yes, we were not happy about our money literally down the drain...but it was an accident.
To me as a mom it was one of those...bitter sweet moments...I could have been very upset and thought of the money only or chose to focus on my son's emotional state. My son's emotional state meant a lot more to me than anything at the point. He was DEVASTATED!
We talked through it, dad remained calmed and we found out that he had a one time replacement deal. He would have a class ring again!
That evening dad decided that Saturday morning he was going to the man hole with a friend and get the ring....Isaiah was a little nervous since it was on school property and did not want his dad arrested. Willie assured him it was okay. They attempted to get it with a net...but risking pushing it down the drain if it was still in there...Finally the Marine dad went for it dived in the man hole and pulled out handfuls of" who knows what" until the ring was retrieved!
His son was a very happy camper. Many people were praying too! It was an awesome day, not only did Isaiah get his ring back...but Dad bought him a car that day too!!! What a wonderful Father and husband!
And that is my ring story.......
written on Facebook note Friday, February 13, 2009
About 1 o'clock my phone rang. It was a hang up from Isaiah...then rang again..hang up. I called back ...could hear talking. First thought something bad going down at school. Then hang up....Finally, Isaiah calls back screaming in the phone....ARE YOU SERIOUS...ARE YOU KIDDING ME...ARE YOU SERIOUS...MY CLASS RING JUST WENT DOWN THE DRAIN....Needless to say I am in shock...thinking at first it is a joke...then...how do I tell Willie....We had just had a discussion in my office that we were going to have to cut back on entertainment because we forgot about the ring balance. Isaiah is still screaming...CALL HERFF JONES, CALL THE SCHOOL...CALL SOMEBODY!
I hang up the phone knowing I must tell Willie...yikes..he is gonna flip!!! The kid has only had the ring 4 hours and it is gone. So I dial Willie, "Willie don't get upset...please don't lose it because Isaiah is already upset enough...the class ring just went down the drain. He says, what was it doing off his finger..." I don't know Willie but he is very upset." His response in the strangest voice,"Okay....bye." We hang up the phone.
I call the school and of course there is nothing they can do...but put in a request on a Friday to the Duval County Public school who probably can't come out until next week.
Okay now my stomach is getting sick...I figure the best thing to do is go get Isaiah because I know he is not focusing and won't accomplish a thing. I call a few friends ask them to pray. I call Willie and tell him I am going to the school. I get there and Isaiah is in an assembly...when he finds out I am there he just walks out...exactly why I went to get him because he was going to get himself in trouble because he was upset.
I told him that he just needed to get in the car and cry! I knew he hadn't cried at school, he's 16 and it would have ruined his reputation of course. Yes, crying always makes you feel better even if you are a guy. I will not mention what happened in the car...but after about 20 minutes I think he felt better.
At the school I realized how insensitive adults can be....I mean every official there made him feel like crap...it was actually ridiculous. They were getting him even more upset. Yes, we were not happy about our money literally down the drain...but it was an accident.
To me as a mom it was one of those...bitter sweet moments...I could have been very upset and thought of the money only or chose to focus on my son's emotional state. My son's emotional state meant a lot more to me than anything at the point. He was DEVASTATED!
We talked through it, dad remained calmed and we found out that he had a one time replacement deal. He would have a class ring again!
That evening dad decided that Saturday morning he was going to the man hole with a friend and get the ring....Isaiah was a little nervous since it was on school property and did not want his dad arrested. Willie assured him it was okay. They attempted to get it with a net...but risking pushing it down the drain if it was still in there...Finally the Marine dad went for it dived in the man hole and pulled out handfuls of" who knows what" until the ring was retrieved!
His son was a very happy camper. Many people were praying too! It was an awesome day, not only did Isaiah get his ring back...but Dad bought him a car that day too!!! What a wonderful Father and husband!
And that is my ring story.......
written on Facebook note Friday, February 13, 2009
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