Today my sweet middle child woke up and just kind of fell apart. His big nine-year-old self climbed into my lap and he cried frustrated nine-year-old tears. School is hard (to like.) People are hard (to love.)
My Mama’s heart hurt for him. I want to march into his class and say to everyone (but that one child in particular,) “hey!! Be nice to my boy!!”
But then, that wouldn’t really solve any problems.
Because Brenn needs to know that sometimes to have friends, you have to go out of your way to be friendly (not sit in a corner and read all of recess.) Because sometimes you have to realize they people do/say insensitive things by accident and that taking it personally might only hurt yourself. Because sometimes, loving people means putting yourself out there and they say, “no.”
However, that doesn’t mean that we quit trying. Sometimes life stinks (that’s the theological term.) But God says that his mercies are new, every morning. And his regard for his children is stable - never fickle, never stupid, not ever like a nine-year-old’s brain. So on the days when it’s hard to be with people, I remind Brenn that he’s with God too. And God loves him. And I love him. And probably, a lot of people like him.... he just has to get through the rough moments to truly see them.
The sunrise today reminded me of God’s love. Some days it’s startling. Some days it’s hard to see. But it is constant and dependable. Every day, he is faithful. His mercy and grace will sustain us if we let it.
Even during the worst days of fourth grade
Comments