Friday, February 22, 2008

POP! Goes The Weasel

Last night the Twins were bickering off and on throughout the evening. I became a sort of ticking time bomb like a jack-in-the-box toy. With each quarter turn of the handle, you hear a 'plink' and the tension builds. Girltwin to Boytwin: "Will you please stop doing that. *plink* Will you please stop doing that. *plink* Will you please stop doing that *plink*." "Will you PLEASE stop doing that. *plink*Will you PLEASE stop doing that. *plink*Will you PLEASE stop doing that." and on and on. Later on Boytwin to Girltwin: "Will you please stop singing. *plink* Will you please stop singing. *plink* Will you please stop singing.*PLink*" "Will you PLEASE stop singing. *PLInk* Will you PLEASE stop singing. *PLINk*. Will you PLEASE stop singing. *PLINK*" And POP goes the weasel.

I LOST it. The irritated, frightening, frustrated figure exploded out of its box and let loose. "WILL. YOU. STOP!!!?? What on EARTH is the matter with you people?? Why can't you JUST. STOP. SINGING?? And why can't YOU just PUT. SOME. HEADPHONES. ON??" "DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT ONLY BEING NASTY TO EACH OTHER BUT THAT YOU ARE CAUSING ME TO SUFFER BECAUSE I HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT TOO!? "You need to work on being LESS SELFISH!!"



When I finally settled into my room for the night, I found this 'sticky'd to my dresser.



*sigh* My son..... Did the very thing (without being told) that I should have done when I felt the spring tightening. He went to God's Word for guidance and correction. And then he quietly, without even attempting to make his case, brought what he had learned to me. *sigh*

Two things:
1.) A Pastor in California has brought this quote by C.S. Lewis to my attention, "Surely what a man does when he's taken off guard is the best evidence of what sort of a man he really is. If there are rats in the cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness doesn't create the rats it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of a provocation does not make me ill-tempered. It only shows me what an ill-tempered man I already am."
2.) I plug along and plug along wondering if my little people are hearing ANYthing I am trying to teach them. And then God gives me a little piece of fruit to chew on and be thankful for and while doing so, shines the light on the work that I need to do too.


Jack photo courtesy of keithcorcoran on Flickr
© All Rights Reserved.

17 comments:

His Girl said...

wowza. you just made me cry!!!

i LOVE that you are being able to see fruit for your labors. it's giving me hope.

also, i am so proud of you, my friend. you are a much more incredible mother than you know

His Girl said...

ps: plink! plink! I could totally feel the tension... great description! I completely know the feeling! well written, amiga

April said...

Oh this hits too close to home. I've been a jack in the box more times than I want to admit and today has been one of those trying days. Thanks for your transparency. No temptation has taken you but what is common to man. May the Lord give us grace to deal with our sin so we can deal with theirs. I know I need it.

BTW, that verse was one we memoried recently. How convicting.....thanks for the reminder.

Jenster said...

Wow! What a post! I'm guessing most all of us can relate to it (though the jack-in-the-box has totally creeped me out and I probably won't sleep well now).

And then to read what your son wrote? Just wow! You have a stellar son! And praise God for His affirmation that your efforts to lead your children toward Him are not in vein.

And not to minimize your outburst or anything, but I do believe it's okay for your children to know they have frustrated you. WE are not God, but mere humans with only so much patience. Event the most patient of us (which would not be me).

j said...

Please come by my site for an Urgent prayer request. Thanks, jennifer

Marsha said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!! Opps, I'm sorry. i love, love, love this!
Thanks for sharing this.

And I LOVE the picture!

Gretchen said...

Man, that's like a Chucky Movie experience! :)

Sorry they pushed you buttons, but look at the fruit which was harvested! How cool is that???!!! I am often humbled when I am on a tirade (yes...eyes downcast)and my 9 year old teenage daughter looks at me and begs, "Mom, can we pray?"

"Umm...yeah, Sweetie. Of course we can pray."

I could (and sometimes do) get all bent out of shape that I should be the one to lead this, but I think God leads us back to Himself in a multitude of ways. Using our kids is one.

Hang in there! You are clearly doing a great job. They know you love them. ANd they know God. Anything else can be worked out.

Thanks for the Org Junkie reminder. I knew she did menu plans, but had forgotten all about it. xxxooogretchen

Susie Q said...

You are an amazing Mom to have raised these sweet children. Treasures...I think you are doing such splendid work. Blessings!
But ooh is that clown scary! : )
Hugs,
Sue

Andrea Frazer said...

Great post. Thank you. How old is your son? I will look back on other posts. I am sure there are scriptures about what a lazy cow Mama P is.

Beautiful post.

Marcia Francois said...

I loved the twins story :)

Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods too!

~Marcia, Organising Queen

Shauna said...

Wow! And Ouch! Profound, yet convicting.

Kinda like rubbing alcohol. You know it cleanses and cleans, but oh, the STING!

I know this is an area where I personally struggle. I am not a very patient person and must strive for it with every cell in my body.

How wonderful (and rewarding) to see the fruit that God is harvesting in your young son. That is beautiful and touching. And remember that he is seeing that example somewhere. You're doing a far better job than you give yourself credit for.

PJ said...

What a post! well done. And...I love it when the children give our teaching back to us -- right on time!!

j said...

Begging you to post something soon so I don't jump when I get the CLOWN! It's like the scene from ELF, I about jump out of my skin. ICK!

Ok, now that I have rudely critiqued your photos (sorry, sort of but he really is scary), I wanted to tell you thanks for your prayers. It is a blessing to me the Christians who offered their support to Erin and her family. Now I want/need for Brandy to give us an update. Thanks again, Jennifer

Becky said...

Hey, can I borrow that Jack-in-the-box? I'm pretty sure setting that on my front porch would keep Judah from ever opening it, lol!

But your analogy was so true. And so convicting. I need to really work on toning down my own 'Jack-in-the-Box' responses.

Excellent post, S4J. And that's terrific that your son knows to go to the Word as the Authority on everything.

Growin' with it said...

boys and bickering..hmm sounds familiar to my sweet world! your c.s. lewis quote was like a big ol' spot light. thanks for sharing it. i have found your blog through his girl and love the "game" you two have created! my house does too!

Jenn said...

All I can think about is that I hope I instill in my boys whatever you did in your kiddos, so they will turn to scripture like that! Totally brought tears to my eyes - so powerful.

Unknown said...

What a great kid he is! Thank goodness God lets us know that they are listening somewhere along the way.