Impressionable vs. Memorable~

As a young mother, I would sort of roll my eyes when people would say "Cherish every moment while they are still young!"  I adored my children when they were small.  They were so precious and filled my heart to a capacity I didn't know was possible. (They still do!) But not every moment was the cherishing type...  Sleep deprivation, poopy diapers, hearing "no!", "why?", and "why?" and "why?"... (Wait, I still hear those same questions...)

But now, as a mother heavily entrenched in tweendom and teetering on the verge of teenagers, I find I am the one now telling the younger mothers to cherish every moment.  It truly goes by so fast!  You can't truly appreciate the depth of that warning until you've experienced that yearning inside of you that wants to freeze time for a bit and keep your children small.

I've been pondering this new season in my life as a mother.  I've been remembering those younger years when my children were so impressionable.  Sponges, if you will.  Talks about God, right and wrong, manners, why we don't talk to strangers, and why we look both ways before crossing the street and always, always, always hold mommy's hand were simply truth.  Because mommy told me so.  It sure was easier then!
Now, it's more about modeling truth and what's right. Do my actions match the words coming out of my mouth? Believe me, they are keenly aware.  Whether they admit it or not, they still take their cues from me. And I refuse to be seen as Charlie Brown's teacher:  (Wah wahhh wah wahhh wah wah!) It's not so much my teaching them through words anymore, but using teachable moments to provide memorable experiences.

They may not remember walking in the park and saying things like "Wow!  How does God color in the lines so good?!", or "Thank you, Jesus, for the byooootiful sunset!", or bedtime prayers that ended with "I love you, Daddy loves you and Jesus loves you!", but those moments certainly made lasting impressions.  Who God is and His love for them was impressed on them during those moments. (I assure you I will never forget!)
But it is becoming more and more clear to me that as my children are older now, the teachable moments are the memorable ones.  The ones they will take with them when they *sniff* leave the nest.  Just because mommy says so, doesn't necessarily mean it's truth anymore.  We are waaay more abstract now and sometimes need a visual aid or experience!
For example, we came up with some fun ideas of things to do during the month of December to give to others in the community that maybe would otherwise go unnoticed.  My youngest and I bought 2 caramel apple ciders from Starbucks and gave them to the crossing guards at her school during a very bad cold snap.  The overwhelming surprise from these women made it so much fun and I know that doing this fun, unexpected thing is something my daughter will remember.  It felt good to surprise someone by giving just for the sake of giving with no strings attached.



But today I caught myself wondering how in the world am I to teach my girls to be the amazing women of God I so hope for them to become, if I am not even the woman of God I would want them to be?  I can't just tell them how things ought to be anymore.  If I tell them, I better be showing them as well, or my hypocrisy may show through.  I am so far from who I want to be...for myself and for them...  So, if I want my children to have memorable moments that are worth having, I have to proactively give God the seat on the throne of my heart. (It's time for me to stop trying to keep that seat warm.)
The things to teach my girls are not so concrete anymore.  There can be no place for gossip, passing judgement, laziness, apathy, or disrespect.  Do I want the moments remembered to be bad attitudes in the grocery line (guilty!), or an attitude of servanthood?  Is it ok for me to cut my children off mid-sentence if I don't allow them to do it to me?  Can I invoke consequences for waiting till the last minute to do homework if I am a procrasitnator myself?  Can I get upset when their room is not clean, when I have laundry piled high in my own bedroom?
I want my children to rise and call me blessed someday.  I want their children to rise and call them blessed someday!  God help me to make each moment memorable in a good way!  Guide my every word, thought, and action.  Please take your rightful place on the throne of my heart.  Thank you for teaching and loving my children despite my imperfections.