Proud Moment



We were discussing the topic of Contentment in our Sunday evening service last Sunday. The subject of money came up as we looked at 1 Tim 6:6-10, where it talks about godliness with contentment being great gain, and also about the love of money. Pastor asked, "So how would we know if we are trying to find our contentment in money?" and the floor was opened up for comments.  Noah raised his hand, which was a surprise to me (normally he doesn't comment), and was called on. I was momentarily glad he was entering the discussion and genuinely interested in his comment. But then, from our newly twelve-year-old son's mouth, came the three words that have the potential to strike the most fear in the heart of any parent. Noah began his comment with "My mom says..."

Pause. I tell you, in the nanosecond that it took for Noah to get to the next word in that sentence, time. stood. still. I was paralyzed in my chair and heat surged into my cheeks as my addled brain tried desperately to anticipate what was going to come next. Step into my brain during that nanosecond of time and see what I came up with. Where could that sentence lead? Imagine with me:

"My mom says, 'I want this room cleaned up NOW! Whatever is found under the bed or not cleaned up will be thrown away!'"
"My mom says, 'no one wants to see you picking your nose. Cut it out!'"
"My mom says, 'I just need a break. Is it bedtime yet?'"
"My mom says, 'There are a thousand things in life that I don't want to do either, but I've learned I have to do them anyway. That's life! Get used to it."

And one more. How about "My mom says, 'Go. Outside. Now. Don't come back in until I call you."

So you see. There was nowhere good that this could go. Also for the record, this list does not include all of the opinions I have shared among my family that I would rather not have repeated out of context like a bad sound byte. And my brain processed all of this in the time it took to get to the next word. So, what did he actually say? I wasn't ready for it:

"My mom says 'It's like you have a cup full of soda or water or whatever. And if you get bumped, whatever is in your cup will come out. So what comes out of your cup is just revealing what was in there in the first place.' So if you love money, you'll be able to tell because your love for it will come out when you get bumped."

Well, folks.

I was never more proud of my son for (a) remembering something I've tried to teach him, when I usually feel like everything I say is lost in the wind, (b) for applying said comment to his life in a meaningful way, and (c) communicating that in a room full of adults.  Also, he gets a round of applause for not humiliating me. Kidding, not kidding.

Praise the Lord for glimmers of hope!

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