Lord, help me

My youngest has this thing. It's difficult to put into words, but as best I can put it is that it is a funny little cuddlely-cute thing that is absolutely irresistible.  I guess all two-year-olds have it, but to me, Asher especially seems to have this amazing ability to extract adoration by his very presence.  I notice it when he gives me a matter-of-fact "you're welcome" when I praise him for going to the potty or when he shrugs his shoulders like he does or when he gives me one of his best hugs.  It's almost like he's a nice old man in a tiny body.  It's awesome.

But my confession is that tonight, his two-year-old strong will sent me over the edge.  I was a spitting fire kind of angry at bedtime. Spitting fire.

Of course I love him.  I love all my children.  But loving them well in the most excellent way all the time eludes me.  I'm certain I'm not alone in this parenting sentiment.

The thing is that I had just read 1 Corinthians 13 this morning and tried to meditate on its applications for my daily mom duties:

Love is patient - with her kids, even when they ask for waffles and leave them uneaten on the kitchen table

Love is kind - to her kids, even when they're not

It is not easily angered - by her kids, even at the end of a long day

It always perseveres- through the hard stuff with her kids, even in the face of unreasonable, persistent, and loud requests for the right kind of covers

I missed the mark with cutie pie today, but the good news is that Jesus' love is patient and kind with me, it is not easily angered, it always perseveres, and it never fails.

Here's to tomorrow and to the Lord's most excellent kind of love.

Lord, help me love like you do.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails..." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8