Many years ago, when my four children were very small, a little decoupage magnet decorated my refrigerator door. It read, Lord, Grant Me the Patience to Endure My Blessings. I found it one day on an shopping spree with a great-aunt. We chuckled at the sentiment it expressed. And she purchased it for me as a small gift and reminder of our time together.
I often overlooked the words on the magnet, as I used it to hold up the latest photo or the most recent preschooler drawing. But one day, the words on the magnet flashed across my mind's eye as I struggled to unfasten my baby boy's car seat and gathered my little flock for their morning swim lessons. I watched the other mothers with their children as I put the baby in the stroller, handed my other three their towels and walked to the pool. My heart sank as I realized the truth of the words on the little wooden magnet. And, I remember thinking, we really do ENDURE our blessings.
After swim lessons, I fed my hungry tribe lunch and put them down for naps. Then I went to the kitchen, grabbed a sharpie and crossed out the words endure from my magnet. Above the crossed out word, I carefully wrote the word ENJOY. And silently I prayed, "Lord, please help me and other mommies to enjoy, not simply endure, our blessings."
I don't know what ever happened to that magnet, but the prayer it inspired also became the title for one of my favorite messages that I share with MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) mommies. In that talk, from my post-MOPS perspective, I share the lessons I learned about things I would have done differently to enjoy, and not simply endure, the blessings God entrusted to my care.
My future posts will include the lessons from that talk and many more. But until then my prayer has always been and continues to be "Lord, grant us the patience to ENJOY our blessings!" And, if you would like a magnet to hang on your refrigerator door, please leave a comment and we will work out a way for me to send you one.
I often overlooked the words on the magnet, as I used it to hold up the latest photo or the most recent preschooler drawing. But one day, the words on the magnet flashed across my mind's eye as I struggled to unfasten my baby boy's car seat and gathered my little flock for their morning swim lessons. I watched the other mothers with their children as I put the baby in the stroller, handed my other three their towels and walked to the pool. My heart sank as I realized the truth of the words on the little wooden magnet. And, I remember thinking, we really do ENDURE our blessings.
After swim lessons, I fed my hungry tribe lunch and put them down for naps. Then I went to the kitchen, grabbed a sharpie and crossed out the words endure from my magnet. Above the crossed out word, I carefully wrote the word ENJOY. And silently I prayed, "Lord, please help me and other mommies to enjoy, not simply endure, our blessings."
I don't know what ever happened to that magnet, but the prayer it inspired also became the title for one of my favorite messages that I share with MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) mommies. In that talk, from my post-MOPS perspective, I share the lessons I learned about things I would have done differently to enjoy, and not simply endure, the blessings God entrusted to my care.
 |
| Vistaprint |
Love that saying! I have two lively little boys and a third on the way. Your next post speaks to me too as I struggle with my sometimes strong willed boys! Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDelete