Guess What Kids Can Do

For the past 2 1/2 weeks I have been working with a youth group at an international school. about 90 kids are American and 90 are Chinese. It has been quite the interesting experience trying to learn how to motivate the kids to do things they don't want to and to listen to instructions. Hard work and it's had me worn out on more than one occasion. However, I can say that I have learned how quickly the kids could unearth my weaknesses and show me my faults. They've taught me quite a bit about who I am and who I want to be.

(the Daily Herald article, here, tells the story a bit)

Another set of children also taught me a lot, perhaps even more, this last week. The first cousin to get married on my mom's side had her wedding and reception this past week so we had a lot of family visiting to the celebration. The whole week prior to the reception, my aunt and uncle and their four children stayed at our house. I quickly became the babysitter, cook, and housekeeper when I was not at work (since my aunt and uncle were on "vacation"). It's a lot of work too. Those four children pushed me to my limits often too, and had a knack for drawing out my faults too. I can't say that I was perfect for them, I definitely messed up a lot in only a week, but I did learn two very important things:

1. No matter how hard we try, we will always fall short of perfection, and that's where Jesus Christ comes in. Only He can strengthen us and give us the aid we need to become better, and eventually perfect.

2. God's plan is perfect and there is a great reason why He has commanded us to marry and then have children. - I think I am beginning to see the genius of His plan in putting us together as families.