one thing that i've learned in my life, is that children are a blessing. this is not just when they are sweet, angelic little bundles of joy that bring happiness and hilarity into our lives. i've learned this through my little ones. the little darlings just bless my life every day. especially today. and, they teach me more and more about humanity and human nature, as well as myself.
as i type this, i am still somewhat fuming over something my oldest decided to "bless" me with this morning. after a weekend of visiting family over in the delta, and the subsequent spoiling of my two sons by both sets of grandparents, we arrived home at a very late hour last night. so, being the good and conscientious father that i am, i decided to let them sleep in today and keep them home from school and daycare (actually, it was my wife's idea, i just agreed with her). now, upon waking around 10 am, my oldest came walking out of his room and said that he was hungry, which was usual. being in a particularly generous mood, i offered to make him bacon and eggs for breakfast, to which he replied that he wanted corn pops instead. no harm, no foul. no feelings hurt. i said, "sure!" and whipped him up a big bowl of corn pops. i then let him go outside and play while it was still relatively cool, and even went outside with him and played for a little while. i did all the things a good dad should do. and then . . .
about 30 minutes later, my wife called and informed me that she had forgot to bring a lunch and asked would i bring her something from subway. i said i would, and loaded the two little ones into their respective car seats and we started down the road for subway. we got to subway, and i ordered my wife and myself a sandwich, thinking that the boys should not be hungry, after two bowls of cereal each only 30 minutes prior, with the intent of feeding them a late lunch. gavin, my oldest, never mentioned wanting food, never said he was hungry, never even paid attention to the food being freshly prepared in front of us, but instead was playing with his cars on the guide rail. we got in the car, and halfway back to the school, he informed me, "daddy, i want subway." i replied, "but you just ate breakfast 3o minutes ago." he said, "but i'm hungry." i said, "ok, i'll get you something a little later, i have to get mama's food back to her so she can eat it before her lunch is over." he said, "can i have subway?" and i said, "yes, but not right now. we'll go in a little while." he responded, "ok." and that was it. no more was said about the subway.
five minutes go by and we arrive at the school. lori walks out to get her food from me and greets the boys. gavin does not respond. lori asks gavin what's wrong. gavin STARTS TO CRY and tells lori that he was hungry and wanted subway and daddy wouldn't get him any! the little "angel" lied on me and made me look like a mean father who has refused to provide for the needs of his children! and then, my wife responds by saying, "chris, why didn't you get him subway? he's hungry!" the little manipulator conned my wife into chastising me for neglecting our children's needs! never once did he mention that i had told him that i would take him to subway to get lunch. never once did he sing my praises for being such a good dad all morning. instead, he betrayed me and accused me of not caring!
now, remember that part about them being a "blessing"? well, while i was fuming as i was driving back to subway per my wife's instructions to get my "blessing" some food, God, in His subtle way, said to me, "it's tough to look in the mirror sometimes, huh?" because what do i do? God can give me two wonderful, healthy children. a beautiful wife that loves me and is faithful to me. a roof over my head. a car that gets me from point a to point b without worry. a family that supports me. blessings out the ears, day after day. and i complain and cry that God isn't taking care of me, simply because i presently am jobless. nevermind the fact that i got an opportunity to spend a wonderful morning with my children that i wouldn't have otherwise got to do had i been at a job. nevermind that His Word promises that He will supply ALL my NEEDS (as mentioned in an earlier post). i betray God in my attitude. it is tough to look in the mirror, but thank God for the blessing of correcting me and keeping me in check, for His Word also says that He corrects those that He loves. now, if you'll excuse me, i'm going to kiss my little blessing goodnight.
as i type this, i am still somewhat fuming over something my oldest decided to "bless" me with this morning. after a weekend of visiting family over in the delta, and the subsequent spoiling of my two sons by both sets of grandparents, we arrived home at a very late hour last night. so, being the good and conscientious father that i am, i decided to let them sleep in today and keep them home from school and daycare (actually, it was my wife's idea, i just agreed with her). now, upon waking around 10 am, my oldest came walking out of his room and said that he was hungry, which was usual. being in a particularly generous mood, i offered to make him bacon and eggs for breakfast, to which he replied that he wanted corn pops instead. no harm, no foul. no feelings hurt. i said, "sure!" and whipped him up a big bowl of corn pops. i then let him go outside and play while it was still relatively cool, and even went outside with him and played for a little while. i did all the things a good dad should do. and then . . .
about 30 minutes later, my wife called and informed me that she had forgot to bring a lunch and asked would i bring her something from subway. i said i would, and loaded the two little ones into their respective car seats and we started down the road for subway. we got to subway, and i ordered my wife and myself a sandwich, thinking that the boys should not be hungry, after two bowls of cereal each only 30 minutes prior, with the intent of feeding them a late lunch. gavin, my oldest, never mentioned wanting food, never said he was hungry, never even paid attention to the food being freshly prepared in front of us, but instead was playing with his cars on the guide rail. we got in the car, and halfway back to the school, he informed me, "daddy, i want subway." i replied, "but you just ate breakfast 3o minutes ago." he said, "but i'm hungry." i said, "ok, i'll get you something a little later, i have to get mama's food back to her so she can eat it before her lunch is over." he said, "can i have subway?" and i said, "yes, but not right now. we'll go in a little while." he responded, "ok." and that was it. no more was said about the subway.
five minutes go by and we arrive at the school. lori walks out to get her food from me and greets the boys. gavin does not respond. lori asks gavin what's wrong. gavin STARTS TO CRY and tells lori that he was hungry and wanted subway and daddy wouldn't get him any! the little "angel" lied on me and made me look like a mean father who has refused to provide for the needs of his children! and then, my wife responds by saying, "chris, why didn't you get him subway? he's hungry!" the little manipulator conned my wife into chastising me for neglecting our children's needs! never once did he mention that i had told him that i would take him to subway to get lunch. never once did he sing my praises for being such a good dad all morning. instead, he betrayed me and accused me of not caring!
now, remember that part about them being a "blessing"? well, while i was fuming as i was driving back to subway per my wife's instructions to get my "blessing" some food, God, in His subtle way, said to me, "it's tough to look in the mirror sometimes, huh?" because what do i do? God can give me two wonderful, healthy children. a beautiful wife that loves me and is faithful to me. a roof over my head. a car that gets me from point a to point b without worry. a family that supports me. blessings out the ears, day after day. and i complain and cry that God isn't taking care of me, simply because i presently am jobless. nevermind the fact that i got an opportunity to spend a wonderful morning with my children that i wouldn't have otherwise got to do had i been at a job. nevermind that His Word promises that He will supply ALL my NEEDS (as mentioned in an earlier post). i betray God in my attitude. it is tough to look in the mirror, but thank God for the blessing of correcting me and keeping me in check, for His Word also says that He corrects those that He loves. now, if you'll excuse me, i'm going to kiss my little blessing goodnight.
my two blessings, gavin (left) and nathan (right)
2 comments:
Okay, so you just LIED on me! :P You have sung your praises and yet, neglected to mention what a great job your wife does on a DAILY basis with our children. I could have TOLD you that Gavin and Nathan would be hungry 30 minutes after corn pops (as could other mothers) because corn pops are not FILLING...see...eggs and bacon...yes, that would have been filling. Also, who was right? I seem to remember BOTH of them scarfing down some subway sitting in my room shortly after you got back. Huh, huh? Who's the supermom now? :P
Just seeing if this actually works.
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