Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
Psalm 30:14
Recently, our children’s school’s 4th-6th grade choir held try-outs for solo parts in the upcoming spring concert. This being Joshua and Gabrielle’s only year that they will be in choir together until high school, our hearts are particularly warmed that we can watch them sing together as part of the same choir.
Many of the most poignant conversations we have as a family occur in the car. As solo try-outs approached a few weeks ago, I was humbled to listen to a brief heart-to-heart conversation between Joshua and Gabrielle on our drive home from school.
Gabrielle: “Joshua, I am going to practice and practice and try out for a solo for the spring concert. Are you going to try-out?”
Joshua: “No, Gabrielle, I am not going to try-out. I have already had a few opportunities to have special singing parts in the choir concerts. I’d like others to have their special time, too.”
I admire Gabrielle’s disciplined hard work, hopeful enthusiasm and courage.
I admire Joshua’s humility, wisdom and maturity.
This short but sweet conversation between our children blessed my heart and I uttered silent words of praise to God for His goodness.
Gabrielle (4th grade) with her flute doing one of the things she loves
Joshua (6th grade) as quarterback ~ doing what he loves most
As a mom, I rely completely on God’s wisdom and on His faithfulness that His Holy Spirit is active in my children’s hearts. I pray daily that we are all yielding our hearts to the Holy Spirit moment by moment. It’s my heart’s most consistent prayer as a wife, as a mom and as His child myself.
One of the precious nuggets of wisdom the Lord has shown me about mothering is that my children often times will live out their faith differently. And that’s okay. It’s actually perfect.
For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Our children won’t necessarily live out their faith like Jim or I do. And they won’t always live it out like the other. God has created us each uniquely and with different gifts and passions.
Gabrielle may more often live out her faith in and relationship with Jesus by memorizing scriptures and hiding God’s Word in her heart. Joshua may live out his faith in and relationship with Jesus by more often being a doer of God’s Word. Prayerful that each will be the vital blend of being both hearers and doers of God’s Word, I am peaceful that they will express those individually.
Giving my children the freedom to grow in their own relationship with God and living it out personally, each with their own uniqueness with which He created them, is ironically one of the most freeing things I can do for myself as their mom. As they each work out their own salvation, I know God is working in each of them for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13). Trusting God that He loves them perfectly and desires them to flourish in their relationships with Him, my hands are folded and my knees are bowed in prayer.
Teaching them to fear the Lord by my own actions and words, pointing them to His Word daily as we do life together, and fervently praying for them are my greatest treasures and responsibilities as their mom.
My joy as their mom: They are singing in the same choir together in life!
Throughout their lives, Gabrielle may sing the melody while Joshua sings the harmony. They may be singing different notes but they are singing to and for the same Redeemer. Their expressions of love and praise won’t always sound or look the same, but as long as they are always in His choir, this momma’s heart and lips will be saying Alleluia!
“He gently leads those who have young.”
Isaiah 40:11
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed…
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who works in you both
to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV)
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