Dear Lindsey,
I was just remembering a funny story I HAD to share for the laugh of it!! Come with me to laugh
Expressive Kids, Explosive Words
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Category Archives: Cute Kid Quotes
Coyotes and Jesus
Dear Lindsey,
Years ago, at the soccer field with my older boys, I heard this exchange between my daughter, then 4, and another parent on the sidelines:
Parent: ”What’s your name, little girl?”
Daughter: “Christine, after Jesus and Daddy”
Parent: “Oh! Well what’s your daddy’s name?”
Daughter: “D-A-D!” 🙂
Once when my children were young, I took them up onto the back deck after sunset, so we could behold the amazing sky of stars God had displayed that night. As the breeze swept across the surrounding woods, the leaves sang and animals scurried. In the distance, an ominous howling reminded us of the nocturnal hunts occurring, while we simply enjoyed a peaceful moment as a family.
“I’m sccccccared,” my 3-yr-old said, crawling into my lap. “I don’t want the coyotes to get us.”
I was amused, since the coyotes were clearly far away, and we were clearly 30 feet off the ground on the upper deck. Before I could console, Nathaniel (then 6) said, “It’s ok, Christine”
His tone was so comforting. I smiled at the irony that he was probably the one who had introduced her fear, but I was thrilled that this time he was being so kind.
Then he continued in the same joyful tone: “You believe in Jesus, so you will go to heaven when the coyotes are done eating you.” 🙂
The talk of Jesus in our house is evident in the language of my children. But a few months ago, our pastor here in North Carolina, Stephen Davey, asked a key question that I thought I would bring home to my kids, now 14, 11, 8 and 6. “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being 100% sure: how sure are you of what happens to you if you died today?”
I thought this heaven/hell question would be an easy one for the Brady Bunch in my house. We have read the Bible together, attended church, have sung hymns, and prayed together; but their answers took my pride right to where it should be – in the Lord’s hands. They didn’t know.
I am not here for a theological discussion, but I AM here as a mother who loves the Lord, and wants the same for my children. Do you know the answer to the question, on a scale of 1 to 10? Do your children? Shouldn’t we ask? Their answers that morning were eye opening; I realized I had improvements to make in my most-important job. Feeling tugged in so many directions, I tend to look for perfection, but I know that my children’s answers to that question shook my attention forward. I love to serve at church, business, and in the community, but my priority is teaching my kids the answers to crucial questions in life.
Love you, girlfriend!
Terri
My Dad is SO Obsessed!
Nate(10), had worn the same shirt for four days straight. Being an extreme soccer fan, he is often seen wearing a favorite jersey day after day until family members beg the change. Our trip to Italy for a four-week vacation was just beginning, but I think he was taking my light packing to an unneeded extreme. My husband ordered him back inside to change into something less “fragrant,” while adding, “Nate, you have to be on your game all the time. You never know what hot chicks we’ll meet today,” in a teasing tone.
The next morning, same story, different subject: “Brush your teeth; they’re growing hair! Come on! We could run into some hot chicks today,” Chris added fun to the parenting as Nate was sent back in for a date with toothpaste.
By the third offense (need for a shower), Nate knew what warning was coming and said, “I don’t care what ‘hot chicks’ could be there, Dad!”
Later that evening, we were having dinner with some new found friends from Belgium – the only English-speakers we had met thus far. Two teenage boys gave a different dynamic to our dinner conversation, since our kids were younger. The older said to his brother, “Hey, let’s go to the beach in Maori tomorrow; there could be some hot chicks there.” Nate quickly joined the conversation as if he were just one of the guys, “My dad is SO obsessed with hot chicks!”
Ha!
Nate may not know it yet, but his dad IS obsessed with hot chicks – or at least ONE hot chick –me! OK, that’s what he thinks, so let’s not tell him otherwise. 🙂
His chiding of our boys just reminds me how visually attracted men are. I am grateful to have a faithful man, who disciplines his eyes and mind, but I pray I can help him with that role.
Honestly, I have been saddened to see a person suddenly attractive, taking care of herself, changing into a “clean jersey”, only to find out the reason – that she is newly divorced and “back on the market.”
Chris has a game he plays, and once he told me about it, I jumped into playing it too. He likes to pretend that every year we have a chance to end our marriage and choose anyone else. He says that he takes it upon himself to make sure that he is the one whom I would choose again. He knows the qualities I love (because I’ve told him!) and he works hard to be the best at them. So I took it upon myself to do the same. If he could start over tomorrow, would he choose me? Would I be THE hot chick? Am I the playmate he married – throwing football for fun on a crisp fall day, singing in the rain, laughing out loud at his jokes? Do I make him feel more important than all of the other people with whom I deal? Am I doing MY best to keep my health (because angels can do no more!) so he knows my efforts for his physical attraction? Is my beauty on the inside one of which he can be proud? So often, I feel like I fail, (and I’m glad the marriage contract lasts through that! Ha!) but with the goal set to be THE one, I can get back up and try again. One thing I know: he is obsessed with a hot chick, and I am blessed he chooses me.
Letters to Lindsey 