The Absence of Fondness

Three days and two nights we looked out a window facing the Atlantic. Blue skies and beaches, mini golf and ice cream filled a few hours. Breweries and Wineries donned an afternoon. Filet Mignon, a new dress and the man of my dreams in front of me, what better way to spend our 20th anniversary? (As if God himself planned it, and HE did, we also had the pool and hot tub all to ourselves.) Now, 3 weeks later, I finally have time for a short blog.

We adore our children. We talk about them entirely too much. As the saying goes, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I grow much fonder of my children after not seeing them for a few days. Unfortunately, the euphoria of this wears off pretty quickly. (Hence, my title) Therefore, once back on the home front, the whining begins…Welcome Home Mom and Dad!


Seriously, I miss them so much, but I hate how the bickering escalates sometimes! I wouldn’t trade a moment, honestly. They teach me more than I teach them. Children are so intricately made. Their innocence, their reasoning, and the way they fully, deeply, wholly love you, is straight from heaven. I don’t allow those moments where the enemy gets a foothold to last. I admit, I don’t run to the room where the argument is every single time, mostly because I’m hoping they will work it out themselves. It is all the other moments where I could dwell eternal. You know, like when one does a kind deed for another, words of praise and forgiveness, bedtime prayers, all the family story times, family plays and sing-alongs, road trips, cuddle time, playing games outside together and the list goes on…truly it does. I love my life! These are the times we must remember when they are arguing or refusing to fold laundry my way or hitting someone or breaking something or shooting someone. (Yes. I said shooting someone) Air Soft pellets people-don’t go dialing 911 or anything. I love my kids. I love my husband. Here is what is written in Corinthians on love:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:1-13

I see clearly now what it is to put away childish things. Teaching this principle to my 12 yr old son is not so clear. It is harder for me being a woman and trying to train up a boy-man in the way he should go. It is near an impossible task of which I would fail miserably! There, but for the grace of God, go I. God is gracious in this area of parenting. HE knows how difficult the task and what is required of me, but still I fail and still He forgives. So, yes, young grasshopper, you will do dishes and mow the lawn. And, no, you may not shoot your brother in the back of the head or jump off the roof of the barn. Not on my watch!

All in all, our 20th was a hit and it is a joy to be home and back in full swing of things within our four walls. Thank you Nana!