I took Titus on a little one on one date with my Mom and I tonight.  We went to see the new Christopher Robin movie.  Titus is a huge “Pooh” fan.  He has the entire A.A. Milne collection that was given to him by his Grandpa for a birthday gift.  He loves when we read those stories to him. So I thought this would be a delightful movie to take him too! He was so excited and loved the entire movie! It was a sweet movie for kids but not just for kids! The message in this movie was perfect for people today!

As I watched this movie, I thought…..

Our children are to be treasured and not shoved to the side.  So often today we see (like in the movie) where the parents (in this case the dad Christopher Robin) treasured his work far above his family or so it seemed.  It is sad when you see this.  Work outside the home can take control.  It can eat up treasured time.  We don’t birth kids for them to just be a “side dish”.  They are our ministry. God has entrusted these little (some not so little anymore) with Brian and I and He has given us a challenge to raise them up in the light of the Lord.  What a HUGE (sometimes overwhelming) task that is!  I need to wake up everyday and see how God wants me to raise them.  How do I spend my time?  What can I put off so that I can play that game, read that book, watch them jump in the pool, help them with this or that, or teach that important life lesson at that moment.  I want to live as if it were my last day with my kids.  Brian and I want them to know that after God and each other, they are a gift and we love them so much and put them as important!    What is right in front of us needs to be cherished most and not ignored.    Put down the PHONE, put away the computer, set aside the work you brought home to do, stop and listen, pick them up to hug them, pray with them, snuggle, laugh and let them know they are important!  Life is WAY to short to let things just pass by.  Especially when those “things” are the most important.

People today get way to busy! I’ve shared this frustration many times! One must be INTENTIONAL not to forget what is RIGHT before you.  What God has put in front of you is what He wants for you at that moment.  It is so easy for us to get preoccupied and fill up the days with somewhere to go, or something to do! This movie was such a great reminder that sometimes the most important thing to do is NOTHING at all with those you cherish most! It truly is! Drop it all and just do NOTHING! I’m going to remember this, this year on those tough homeschool days…. just to drop it and take off for a hike, tide pools, zoo and just enjoy each other!  A good reminder not to let things get in the way of the more important things in this life.

Another good reminder is that childhood doesn’t last!  This is what makes it so PRECIOUS! Let kids be kids.  As Titus laughed (have you ever heard his giggle?…. we think the entire theater heard it and were laughing because of his giggle), it made me think of the awe and wonder of a child.   Why do so many parents “grow their kids up so fast”?  I want to let them be little since they are only that way for a while.  I want the imagination to go wild, for them to explore, love life, grow up outside and in God’s amazing beauty, be alert & attentive to the things around them. Childhood doesn’t last.  I have an official adult now… wow! He was just a little guy running around with a ninja sword hanging out the back of his undies…. those moments only last a short time and they are gone….  I don’t need to RUSH my kids with school or anything to grow them up. Just let them be kids.