Sometimes an opportunity stands right in front of you and you miss it anyway.  That’s what happened to me just a few months ago.

My oldest boy is 10, but in many ways, he is wise very much beyond his years.  He sat at the table during breakfast and said to me, ‘Remember those kids we used to play with sometimes?  What were their names?  James, and….’

I finished for him, ‘James, Matthew, and Caroline?’

‘Yes, I remember them,’ I said.

That’s where the conversation ended as I was distracted by all that takes place on a weekday morning with my four kids.

Two weeks after our short conversation, I find out that this family had been in distress.

What did I miss?  I missed the opportunity to explain to my son that sometimes God puts someone in your head, in your heart, because they need prayer, or a call, or just some help.

My son, my oldest son, has a gift.  God delivers messages like that to him, in times of great need.  He did it when he was younger, too.  This has finally hit me.  He has this gift and it is up to me and his dad to show it to him, to help it grow in him, and to encourage him to take it seriously and to (whisper) listen carefully.

Our boys need us.  Sometimes boys can be especially hard to reach because they’ve been taught that they should be strong.  They try to conform to what a boy or man should be by society’s standards.  This is WRONG.  Our children, all of our children, are gifted by God in different areas…part of our job as parents is to help discover their gifts and encourage our children to grow and use these gifts to the glory of our Lord.

And…  marvel at the amazing creation God has made in each of them.

“Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19)

When my boys were little I don’t know that I did much pondering.  I did a lot of running, saying “no, don’t touch that” and running.

I remember being exhausted when my boys were small.  With a six year old, three year old and 1 1/2 year old running around and getting into e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, I honestly believe I was asleep the millisecond my head hit the pillow on most nights.  Our days were a chaotic blend of getting the oldest off to kindergarten, play groups, lots of outside play, story time, bath time and learning (for mama and her boys).

Now, those same rowdy boys are 17, 14 and twelve and this mama is a whole new kind of exhausted.  Mentally exhausted.  I am no longer dealing with snotty noses, wars over action figures and whining about having to ride in a booster seat at eight years old.  I am dealing with bullying, sexting, cell phones, “girlfriends” and college applications. My middle son is going through that –no one can see mom drop me off at basketball conditioning- phase while my youngest is trying to figure out how to hold on to childhood as long as possible.

And, I find myself pondering.

My pillow does not always bring me the comfort it once did. I lay awake most nights pondering if they are telling me everything about a situation at school.  Pondering if my oldest (with special needs) will be able to get into the college he wants to attend.  Pondering if their dad and I have modeled our family values enough to “stick” in the real world.  Pondering….

And then I remember, there is One who is not pondering.  He knows the answer to questions I haven’t even thought to ask yet.  Then I realize where I have gone wrong.  I am pondering in my head, when I need to follow Mary’s example and ponder in my heart.

I need to hold onto these moments with my boys, for time is flying by.  I need to ponder how much joy they bring to my life.  Ponder the privilege it is to be their mama at every stage.  Ponder the fact that no amount of worrying on my part is going to change their destiny. 

 I need to keep all these moments and ponder them in my heart.  Do you?

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