I’ve been thinking a lot about my little boy, Trip. He just turned four last week and I’ve been enjoying him so much. Of course there are always enjoyable moments with your children, but those are mixed in with some hard ones. Recently though, my experience of him has been so wonderful. He amazes me with his humor. He has become so gentle, thoughtful, and caring towards his little sister and his cousin. He is always thinking about how to include everyone in what he’s doing.
I want to record this season because I know it won’t last forever. I think back on when I took him to an occupational therapist, convinced he had a sensory issue because he was constantly -and I do mean that literally- biting people. He would bite me, Will, Nana, Pop, my parents, and worst of all, other kids. This was a long and challenging time for me as his momma. I wondered why he was doing it, how I could stop him, change him, make this phase be over as quickly as possible. There were many moments when I thought if I had to talk to Trip about biting one more time that I was going to lose my mind.
What I’m realizing now- is likely all the conversations Will & I had with Trip are partly why we are enjoying him so much now. Those many talks about how it isn’t okay to bite or act aggressively towards others, how gentleness & kindness are so important- those all had a role in shaping who he is today as our four year old.
Not to say Trip never acts out aggressively now, but what a difference time & love make in who he is becoming. All of this brings me to realizing how God the Father instructs me. I can think of so many lessons He teaches me over and over and over again. With patience and love, He continues to mold me into someone who looks ever so slightly more like Him.
“Every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. By His own choice, He gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” James 1:17-18
Kacie B. Sharpe 