Men and women are different. Not exactly Venus and Mars different, but close. We are equally created in the image of our God. We both are required to worship our God and surrender fully to His authority. Man’s natural desire is to hate God and man, as stated in the Heidelberg Catechism Question 5. My tendency is to love and protect my children, even if that means protecting them from each other.

Snarling, growling, and word biting! What’s a mom to do? I’m female after all, I'm not equipped for these daily battles of word twisting and testosterone. All I can do is speak the truth in love, and separate a certain “son” from the rest of us when he can’t control his tongue.

Along with our mantra of biblical principles regularly cited to him over and over again, we also found a pearl of a book by Dale Carnegie entitled, How To Make Friends and Influence People. Within its pages are many attainable principles that can be used by anyone seeking to keep peace or just make any situation better. He’s listened to a regular sermon by SM Davis called, What To Expect From a 12 Year Old. He has read numerous books related to the integrity of a man and good work ethics etc. Yes, he’s a work in progress, I know this. What gets me is his unequivocal ability to tear down and mock a sibling, and melt my heart in the same 24 hour span. We have a book we read together, one I gave to my own mother when I was only 16. I have shared and enjoyed it with all my children, it is titled; Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch. Inside this little gem is a repetitive verse sung by a mother to her son throughout his life.

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
As long as I’m living,
My baby you’ll be.”   
   
                                                                                                         (Then you get to the end where the last line changes from “baby” to “mommy”.) Hard to believe this little 30 page book is completely gut-wrenching! When I read it with him, I know he gets it. It makes sense. He loves me. He doesn’t hurt me intentionally. I struggle, as moms of boys do, to understand the “whys” of his actions. We moms always seem to need a reason or someone to blame. Well, that’s easy; me! I’m a sinner through and through. This boy of mine is no different. He was born in sin as are we. I will give credit where it’s due because he’s incredible on his own. He’s a hard worker, disciplined in his schoolwork, hilariously funny and cute to boot! He has some pretty big shoes to fill, and with much prayer and fasting, I am confident that “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Blessings.