Teachable Moments

When I was 10 years old, my mom took me to town to buy "the doll" I had been saving up for. This was the doll that I cried for whenever I would see another little girl carrying it. This was the doll that I was going to be best friends with and take care of forever! Oh, how I yearned for that doll!

When I first told my mom that I had to have that doll and how important it was to me, she replied, "You have so many dolls already." She failed to see the social/developmental benefits owning "the doll" will give to her 10 year old little girl. Instead, she reminded me how I always get excited about owning a new toy, pleading to get it, promising to take care of it, and a few days later, I lose the excitement I once had for it. She was right. But still, I promised that this time, it's different.

So saved for it, I did! I begged to be given chores in exchange for money that would go towards my precious doll, my future best friend. It took me an eternity, a whole month!

Looking back, I am so thankful that my mom had the wisdom to do what she did when I was 10 years old. She taught me so much at such a young age, a very impressionable time in my life. At the time, I didn't know I was learning significant life lessons that would influence me the rest of my life.

1. I learned that money didn't grow on trees--I thought all my mom (a single parent) had to do was go to the machine whenever we wanted a toy and she can take out as much as she wanted, as much as I wanted.

2. I learned the importance of hard work--If it took me a month to save up for a doll, I began to realize how much hard work my mom did to provide for us (to feed us, clothe us, and have a roof over us). My mom is my superhero.

3. I learned to appreciate and care for my things--It's amazing how I valued "the doll" of all the dolls I owned. There's something about working hard for it that made me appreciate it more. That doll stayed with me for a long time. I finally donated it when we had a toy drive in college.

4. I learned that working hard for something and giving it your best, develops a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment within you.

These lessons followed me through college while putting myself through nursing school. Today, it continues to follow me as a wife and a mother.

• Proverbs 22:17 NIV

  [Sayings of the Wise] Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,

• Proverbs 19:20 NAS

  Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.

This week had been an extremely busy one, more than the usual. Last Tuesday, I took the boys with me to get a few things at Target. While there, I stopped by the toothpaste/mouthwash aisle. LJ loves to look at the different character toothbrushes and was begging me to get him a Little Einstein one, which he already has at home. I explained that to him and with little distraction, we were off. I'm sooo thankful that at age 3, distraction still works.

As I was about to get into the car, I noticed a box in our stroller's storage basket. It was a box of Crest Teeth Whitening that costs about $30 that I know I didn't pay for. When I asked LJ if he put the box in the storage, he just looked at me like he didn't know what I was talking about. I guess I must have had a worried look on my face when I said, "Oh no!" As I was pushing the heavy stroller back to Target, LJ asked me if I was mad at him. I gave my son a big hug and gently told him, "Oh no baby, Mama is not mad at you". Off to guest services we went.

As I explained to a young man what happened, I noticed that people were looking at me. As I handed the box back, an elderly woman looked at me and said, "I can't believe that you returned back in here with your two boys when you were already out there with the box." I nicely told her, "I didn't pay for it, ma'am". There was another woman who went up to me smiling and said, "That was a wonderful thing you did and a wonderful thing for your boys to witness even though they're young.

• Psalms 32:8 NIV

  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

• Psalms 86:11 NIV

  Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

I share these stories because as a mom, I always wonder if I'm doing a good job raising my boys. I pray everyday for God's grace upon me and for God to continue to guide Leo and I in molding them into God fearing men who love Jesus with all their heart, mind and soul. I pray that every day,when given opportunities to shape their hearts, I recognize them as teachable moments like my superhero did.

LUCAS' First Bike Ride With The Family!