our boy

It's been a while.... I can't believe that it's December already.  It means that Parker is 1/2 way to being a 3rd grader and Grey is 1/2 way to being in pre-k.  SLOW DOWN FATHER TIME!!!!

I'm trying a new advent calendar this year.  Our first activity was to make a snowman ornament from salt dough.  Cute, easy, and fun!

 The next day, we were going to paint our snowmen.  Grey got to, but Parker didn't.  He got into a lot of trouble that day, so taking part in the fun was out.  Lately, his attitude has not been good.  That's kind of putting it mildy.  Talks about "choices have consequences" became very real for him.  I know when he gets disrespectful at home, he is getting in trouble at school too.  It's just the way it works at our house.  I'm not writing all of this to point out any flaws, just keeping it real.  Anyway, sometimes it's easy to forget what a great kid you have when things aren't going the way that you'd like for them too. This quote from Pinterest needs to be tattoo-ed on our hearts, I think!

Source: Uploaded by user via Nancy on Pinterest

So, he didn't get to paint his snowman and it broke anyway.  We were going to make another one last night, but there was no time after homework, shower, etc.  After his shower, I was cutting his fingernails, and he told us about a boy at school who "blew his middle finger out" at one of the other kids and then screamed and ran away from the teacher.  We promptly told him not to hang out with him!  Then he told us that he's disgusting anyway, because he picks his boogers and eats them.  Yes, that's a disgusting habit, but not a reason to put that label on someone.  JT told him a story about a boy he went to school with who was not healthy and the other kids made fun of him.  (Can everyone remember the kid they went to school with that got made fun of ALL THE TIME?  I know I can, and I cringe to think of things that I might have done to fit in, but add to that person's misery.  Thank you, Jesus for changing this girl's heart!)  JT told Parker how he always felt so badly for him and would try his hardest to be his friend.  Then I gave my 2 cents...I've had students lash out and run away from me before.  I told him that this little boy's house might not be a happy one.  Maybe his parents aren't really nice to him or maybe they fight all the time and aren't nice to each other.  Either way, he probably doesn't know how to deal with it and this is the only thing he knows to do.  It's time for him to know that some kids, some people, "get the short end of the stick."  AND...God calls US to love them and to be "the light" for them.  How hard for an 8 yr. old boy to grasp.
After this big talk, I went to put him to bed.  He couldn't even look at me.  He fell face first on his bed and sobbed.  After lots and lots of pleading for him to tell me what was wrong, and lots and lots of "no, Mom.  I'm embarrassed", he finally told me that JT's story about the boy he went to school with is why he was crying.  He has such a precious, tender heart.
So, since we didn't get to remake the ornament, we read a Christmas book instead.  I had chosen The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado before any of this had happened.  The gist of the story is about a crippled lamb, who is made fun of for being different, has only one friend, an old cow.  She always tells him when he's sad that "God has a special place for those who feel left out."  He gets left behind by the shepherds.  That night a baby is born in his barn.  And he gets to be the one to keep Jesus warm....all because he is different...and was left behind.  It's such a great message about God having a place and purpose for EVERYONE...even those that are different.
Do I think it was a coincidence that all of this happened in the same day and I just happened to read that story last night?  NO WAY...God knows what we need, when we need it, and faithfully provides it.  My prayers that He would guide and lead me and JT to parent and grow our boys in His will are being answered.  I love the way he shows off!