Do they know?

Some thoughts from "Sacred Parenting" by Gary Thomas that have been impacting my thoughts lately...

"I want my children to think of me as their chief encourager, apart from the Holy Spirit. I desire that, regardless of how the world receives them, they will know that at least two people- their mother and father- will always delight in them. I pray that they believe without a single doubt that raising them has been one of the greatest blessings God could ever have given to us.

I wonder: If someone were to interview our kids and ask them," Do your parents find great joy in loving you?" what would they say? Would our kids have the sense of cherished affection that Paul's spiritual children felt, or would they feel more like a burden than a blessing? One of the greatest gifts a parent can give to his or her children is to ENJOY them, CHERISH them, to LAUGH with them, to give them the satisfaction that we feel so very thankful to walk this life with them. " 

Some comments my oldest has made recently has made me wonder, "Do they know that they ARE my joy, my love, my life, my priority?" When I saw the the above picture on pinterest today, it made me think that my kids may feel more like an inconvenience than like my joy. This is not my intention at all... and it is another thing I need to work on in this journey of parenting...

I am going to write each of my boys a card or love letter... 

"I am full of joy over you." Romans 16:19

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy." Philippians 1:3-4

"Indeed, you are our glory and joy."1 Thess 2:20 

"Your love has given me great joy" Philemon 7