Family Devotions

Ah, family devotions. I often wonder if others are inspired at the beginning of a new year to persevere in this much needed family activity.
“We need to really make that a priority,” my husband and I told each other, firmly and resolutely. We even bought a new devotional aid for parents with small children, with bright colors and helpful tips.
After dinner we brought out the Bible and our new book to read to our four precious children all sitting around the table, angelic faces leading us to believe they were as eager to carry out this resolution as their parents. They almost looked like the children on the cover of the devotional.
This was going to be great.
“Now,” Don began. “Tonight we are going to read about God creating the world…”
“I have to go to the bathroom,” our youngest piped up.
“Well, you can wait until we’re done. In the beginning…” Don continued.
“I have to go bad. Reeeeeeally bad.”
“Honey,” I whispered. “I’d hate to have an accident.”
“You’re right. Go ahead.” He cleared his throat and began again. “In the beginning –“
“Where were the dinosaurs?” another child asked.
“What?”
“Were the dinosaurs there?”
“Um, not yet. Now, let’s listen—“
“THERE’S NO MORE TOILET PAPER!!!” a call comes from the back.
“Sheesh. Where’s the toilet paper?” Don asked.
“It’s in there! I just put a new roll on!” I say defensively.
“I USED IT ALL!!” the voice from the bathroom chirped.
“YOU BETTER NOT USE THAT MUCH TOILET PAPER!!” I call back.
“I’ll go get him some,” my older daughter whips out of her chair.
“No! Wait!”Don calls, too late.
Soon all kids are back to the table.
“Ok, where were we? God created the world. In the beginning-- son, did you wash your hands? Excuse me, excuse me, don’t touch that. Did you wash your hands? Go wash your hands.”
“And flush the toilet!” I called after him.
“Yes, flush the toilet!” Don turned back to the Bible. “Ok, let’s read God’s word!”
“Um, Dad?”
Don sighed. “Yes.”
“Did the dinosaurs go to heaven?”
Don gave our daughter a bewildered look and after a long pause said: “I have no idea.”
My daughter looks disappointed.
Don presses on. “Now, I want to finish a verse! Everyone listen!”
The youngest returns to the table. “I flushed the toilet but it won’t go down.”
Don puts his head in his hands.
“Honey, let’s just pray.” I say.
“Yes, let’s pray. Who would like to pray?”
“ME!” “ME!”
“ME!”
“ME!”
“No, me first!”
“You always go first!”“That’s cuz I’m older and have more to pray about!”
“MOM!”
“Why don’t we let the youngest pray?”
“Dear God,” starts the four- year- old. “Thank you for my new jet plane-“
(Loud whisper: “OW! You’re squeezing my hand too hard!”)
“-and please make more dinosaurs-“ he continued.
(Louder whisper: “Eww! You’re hands are still wet!”)
“-so we can play with them. Amen.”
(loud crash when one of the kids falls backward in a chair.)
“THAT’S IT!!!” I cry. “GO TO BED!!”
That was not quite what I had pictured for our family devotions.
The next evening (oh who are we kidding, it wasn’t exactly the next evening but very soon after) as we are clearing the dinner dishes my youngest says: “Time to read the Bible!” and runs to get the Bible and the devotional book.
“Yay!” they all cry and gather around the table. (To be honest, I am not quite convinced that this enthusiasm isn’t slightly encouraged by the fact that devotions delay bed time. We’ll hope for the best.)
We have a similar reenactment of the night before, only this time, not quite as hectic, and we manage to make it through the second verse.
We consider that a great accomplishment.
(written by Robin)

A Day in the Life of a Mom of Boys

Our after school snack consisted of canned spaghettios with meatballs…and a glass of milk. Josh (my six year old) put on his cleats (and I double tied them) to get ready for flag football practice. After begrudgingly finishing homework, Parker (my 10 year old) asked if he could take his bike (for the bike trails) to Joshua’s practice. I said, “yes”, so we loaded the bike in the car. When we got there, Parker decided that he didn’t want to ride the trails…after getting his bike out of the car and sitting on it. Instead we played catch. After all, Parker has flag football practice tomorrow and needs to keep his arm loose since he’s the throwing quarterback. Josh is also quarterback (especially this week because the 7-yr-old QB is missing the game) and I’m watching his practice out of the corner of my eye as Parker and I run patterns and practice leading each other with the football. As practice winds down, Parker and I go over to wait with the other parents and one “dad” says TO ME, “You throw pretty good!” Then he takes the field and Josh’s team circles around him for a motivational speech. It was Buddy Curry who played linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons in the 80’s! We leave flag football practice and go to pick up the big boys, Trey (my 14-year-old) and Dad (my almost 40-yr-old) from varsity football practice at Lincoln High School. I am handed tickets to Friday night’s game, which is in a 20,000-seat stadium in Valdosta, Georgia and told to be there by kick-off because my freshman son is starting at right guard that night!! We decide to celebrate just a tad early and go out for dinner that night. After putting the bicycle in Dad’s classroom, because we forgot that the FIVE of us and the bike could not all ride together across town, we head over to Sonny’s Barbecue where at least two of us will order the “all you can eat” portions. As we are escorted to our table, Mike nods toward another table and I discreetly look over and see Bobby Bowden (head football coach of the FSU Seminoles) and his wife! Wow! My first Bobby sighting in the four years I’ve lived here. How cool is that? So we sit, and pray, and eat, and chat, and eat and joke and eat a little more. And then we have to pay, of course. And pay again when we arrive home because it is a little later than normal for winding down, and the boys are silly, and begin running through the house naked (well, not the 14-yr-old) after their showers.
Ah, and finally they settle, and Mike and I have the living room to ourselves. I’m reminiscing about a fantastic day with my boys, and he is absorbed in Ultimate Fighting Championship TV.