Proverbs 23:15

"My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine."





Jackson is 14! Yep, that's right...I have a fourteen year old son! Is it possible that time has flown by so quickly? I realize this is a common refrain for moms, but I'm amazed nevertheless.

I think most men look back to a particular summer that they remember fondly as the making of who they have become. I remember Larry telling me about one summer he spent with his grandparents and the great spiritual influence his grandfather had on him. I think this last summer will be Jackson's. It was a summer of physcial and spiritual growth.

We had the priviledge of having my parents, sister, brother, sister-in-law and children live with us for about half a year. They were a tremendous help in getting our home ready for the market and helping me maintain household activities during my health problems. I am grateful for many blessings that came out of this arrangement, but one in particular is the influence my father and brother were able to have on all of my sons spiritual growth.

This summer, Jackson seems to have shot up inches and his voice went from a boy's to a young man's. He painted decks, learned how to fall trees, dig up two garden spots and reseed one (don't ask..haha), garden, make real sourdough (details to come) and care for little ones. Many kids who come from larger families learn this one earlier, but since the Lord hasn't blessed us with any more precious babies since Gregory, his learning has come later. He loves his little cousins and misses them greatly. He misses Addie's "fa-fa" when she's had enough and her little knowing smile when Jackson wanted to give her a good morning kiss. Jackson is gentle, kind and gentlemanly to his mom which has been such a comfort. All these have helped him to grow in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

Most of all, the Lord has blessed him with a tender heart towards Himself. For this, above all, I am most grateful to the Lord. For from this, all the others will flow as the Holy Spirit convicts and challenges Jackson. I love you Jackson, my blessed firstborn!

Proverbs 23:24 - The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

This command is quite a challenge. I love it and rejoice in it. It encompasses every area of life; the parts of our lives that it is easy to be applied to as well as those areas that we struggle with the most. It is my hope that our hearts and minds, our very lives, will be filled with these characteristics all done in the name of Christ. If we are obedient to Christ's commands it will overflow into our homes.

May we run the race that is set before us, not being conformed to this world, but being transformed by the will of God that we may present our lives as a living sacrifice; holy and acceptable unto God. (Rom. 12)