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in 
family and home, ADHD
family and home, ADHD Tuesday
08May
11:00
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 11:05AM It is 11 a.m. and nothing is going as planned. School books lay unopened; chores are still not done, and yet I am rejoicing.
For the past few days I have been praying for "the law of kindness" to be on my tongue...for "strength and dignity" to be my clothing...and the Lord has been obligingly giving me His gentle lessons.
Just as we prepared for math this morning, I caught the stubborn gleam in one son's eye, and the round-about began. For two hours I kept my head down and rehearsed the verses...strength and dignity...her mouth is ruled by the law of kindness... I was clinging, barely, to the hope that I could stay under control through the conflict.
I stumbled, slipped...my tongue got away from me. I clenched my fists and felt the anger getting hotter. By some gift of His mercy, I made myself retreat and entreated the Lord for help. Feeling shaky and weak, I waited. Finally, his small voice in the hall, testing the waters. I could hear the hesitation: should he keep pushing me? how far could he go before the dam broke?... and the whisper of the Lord in my heart: Now! This is the moment! (Friends, He is so faithful to lead us through the dark valleys!)
I stood up quickly and went to him, wrapping him in my arms, whispering love. He pulled back, startled; he had expected exasperation and punishment, an angry retort. He didn't know I had been crying out for the Lord's kindness to replace my ugly, hardened heart...and the Lord never fails.
School books unopened? Laundry strewn across the floor? Two hours wasted?
Who cares.
At 11:00 the law of God's kindness was enforced and it delivered repentance and restoration and rejoicing. At 11:00 I held my son in my arms while Jesus knit wounded hearts back together. Though I didn't know it, the lessons planned for this morning were Christ's lessons. He will make time for laundry and long division in His own way.
It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this. Titus 3
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Reader Comments (8)
Tonia
This spoke to me, for this has been my prayer lately, too.
Thank you for sharing it truthfully and plainly, yet beautifully as usual.
Beautiful, Tonia. I needed this today!
Jeanne
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing these moments with your family. We all need to seek to be kind and gentle instead of harsh and angry. Great testimony.
wow. That's wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much for this-- God is so faithful, strong to save a situation and redeem it for Himself.
Tonia,
Sounds like a prayer that ought to be on my own lips. Thank you for the encouragement. And praise God for His lessons!
~Stacy
Thank you for sharing your struggle this morning...as a mother of two exciting and yet at times exasperating boys and one new little girl I have sat at our kitchen table with 6 year old and the Math workbook biting my tongue and praying silently for help...it is sooo encouraging to hear how you had victory this morning with His grace and the lesson that was taught. I realize once again that I am not alone....thank you.
Kelli
Tonia, you inspire me so much!! I love the way you are so real, and also so godly. My oldest son has ADHD and many traits of Aspergers, and I find it very hard to bite my tongue and not 'blow up', as there are certainly many opportunities to do so! But reading - and re-reading - this today makes me want to persevere in praying for patience and kindness and love towards my Samuel. It is tough but it is the only way...