The Joy and Horrors of Rearing Children

Alec

To mothers, simply looking at angelic face of their child is a joy in itself: smiling in their sleep or waking time,.

We follow through their growing up years, from birth to the time when they want to be independent no longer under the scrutiny of their mother.

We have a logbook of their first smile, their first crawl, their first word, all their first's.

They would even hold on tightly to their mother's skirts, not letting them out of their sight.A strong bond is developed at this time, before their schooling for lack of other children outside of siblings.

One would notice the habit or mannerism of the child if it's from the father of mother.

Above  are all joys,  especially when you get a loving response from the child, but sorrow comes when mishaps happen.like:

• slamming of the car door with a child's fingers still on it - it gets blue and black;
• a child running after the parent's car with a bottle of coke in his hands then tripping, - he had to have stitches to stop  the blood from flowing;
• a child losing his grip on his mother (hugging her legs) and dropping to the floor with the backside of his head - he had temporary loss of his eyesight the following. day;
• A grade one child going out of the classroom then bumping into an older schoolmate while latter was running from his right side's direction - he had to be stitched above his eyebrow.
• Russ, the father of Alec, seemed to be flatfooted, with forever bumps:
• Russ at age four held on to a trike while it was letting its passenger alight. So when the trike sped off, Russ was still holding to the backside. He was surfing on dry land, so when his rubber slipper got unbearably hot, he let go of his hold. He dropped  face down  giving a large bump on his forehead;
• The heart-wrenching part is when you hear their inconsolable cry;
• Lastly, it reminded me of this incident when I saw the toy of Alec. With his toy car, Russ, at the age of two,  went around from our inner road to the main road of the village,. Thank God he was not run over by  speeding cars. He was picked up the village' security guard and brought to our neighbor thinking that he was their son with this admonition: "Bakit ninyo pinababayaan ang anak ninyo?" (Why do you neglect your child?) Because of this last two incidents, the nanny resigned.

My spouse and I were employed at that time. Because of these incidents, I quit my job.

I was so busy in my job I had no prayer time. So now, I make up by praying for the families of my children that they be guided by God and that they be protected from any harm, especially spiritual.

Parent's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this treasured child of mine. Although you have entrusted him/her to me, I know he belongs to you. Like Hannah offered Samuel, I dedicate my child to you, Lord. I recognize that he is always in your care.

Help me as a parent, Lord, with my weaknesses and imperfections. Give me strength and godly wisdom to raise this child after your Holy Word. Please supply what I lack. Keep my child walking on the path that leads to eternal life. Help him to overcome the temptations in this world and the sin that would so easily entangle him.

Dear God, send your Holy Spirit daily to lead and guide him. Ever assist him to grow in wisdom and stature, in grace and knowledge, in kindness, compassion and love. May he serve you faithfully with his whole heart devoted to you. May he discover the joy of your presence through daily relationship with your Son, Jesus.

Help me never to hold on too tightly to this child, nor neglect my responsiblities before you as a parent. Lord, let my committment to raise this child for the glory of your name cause his life to forever testify of your faithfulness.

In Jesus' name I pray.

A Child's Prayer

God Hear My Prayer

God in heaven hear my prayer,

keep me in thy loving care.

Be my guide in all I do,

Bless all those who love me too.

Amen.

Source of prayer: christianity.about.com

Playing in the Rain

Oh, looking at the above picture of my grandchildren, Kayelle and Matthew, brings back memories of my frolicking in the rain.

My days in Dasma, Cavite was one of the best days in my life. 

At same age as Kayelle, my cousins and my childhood friends would go out to play volleyball. It was a carefree play of youngsters, full of energy. The rain was a bonus, no sweat, no fatigue, just pure enjoyment.

I thank my late beloved,  paternal grandparents, Lolo Pedro and Lola Eme for their patience and endurance with  this naughty, exuberant granddaughter, me.

Praying for you both during this All Souls Day, that you are now in the presence of the Father almighty.

Alec, the Argumentative Grandson

Alec, my third grandson, appears to be like his dad Russel with inexhaustible energy as a child.

Alec, during his prenatal days,  was giving his parents a bad time

during their sleep. giving them his karate kicks! And when he was seven months old, his parents had to go to Tacloban  to do medical mission to the Yolanda-ravaged area, he was left under the care of a relative. The poor woman lost her tooth not under the care of a dentist, but it was the power of Alec's seeming karate kick though inadvertently done, while Alec was sound asleep.

Alec could speak some words but he argues with his hand motion as seen above. Arguing with his mom because he was commanded to get down from his favorite place, the stairs. And who would not argue, he was already seated comfortably watching television. That trait was passed down by both parents so am not surprised.

With that trait he could be a law maker, patterned after God's laws or better yet, a preacher spreading the Word, and standing for the truth. I pray to God it is going to be the latter or whatever is God's will.

Bible Verses about Children, Parents

Exodus 20:12  “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

       Exodus 21:15-17  “Whoever strikes his father or                 his mother shall be put to death. (16) “Whoever                  steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in                    possession of him, shall be put to death. (17)                        “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put           to death.

Ephesians 6:1-4  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (2) “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), (3) “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (4) Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9  “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6) And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (8) You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (9) You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (2) For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, (4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Colossians 3:20-21 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (21) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 

Proverbs 1:8-9 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (9) for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 7:1-3  My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; (2) keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; (3) bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

Leviticus 19:3 Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 11:19  You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise

Psalms 78:2-8 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, (3) things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. (4) We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (5) He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, (6) that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, (7) so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; (8) and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalms 103:13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Psalms 112:1-2 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! (2) His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Bible Verses Source:ministry-to-children

Matt and his Antics

How I love interacting with children, making up for the lost time when I was still gainfully employed. You get laughs, different perspective from their viewpoint- totally innocent quips! 

Part of my time is devoted to a free tutoring for kids in the neighborhood, mostly children of nephews, this makes my day.

My grandchildren Matt, Leila, Alec, and Tre' are kilometers away.
To share what I taught to kids in the neighborhood, I call them over the phone. Here's a conversation with Matt, a five-year-old grade I pupil:

Lola Zeny: Matt, what is 1=1?

Matt:  2

Lola Zeny:   If you have five fingers and one is removed, how many will be left?

Matt: Zero!(Lol, I know he was getting bored with that kind of answer) Lola Zeny, MY HEAD IS ACHING! (His way of escape)

Conversation with his dad.

Harold:  Matt was tinkering with his toy car when I saw the words                 "very good" stamped on his right hand. I pried:
              "Wow. What did you do this time?"

Matt:     "I know how to spell 'carpet'," he chirped. "C-A-R-P-E-N."

Harold: "But you just spelled 'car-pen'..." I lightly mused. 

Matt: "I'm not in school anymore so I don't know it anymore. "

What happens in school... STAYS in school.

Matt's Field Trip

Matthew's Adopt a "Doggie"

Matthew loves doggies, but their helper is aversed to it, and so  is  his parents,  and so is his Lola Zeny,  because of the difficulty of maintaining them. I would rather adopt the abandoned children. Sorry, dog lovers. 

We had once Jopet, a lovely dog, and my siblings were really attached to it. When Jopet died "bumaha sa bahay" (cried a river) from them.

Now Matt is content with stuffed poodles, and of course, his toy cars, loads of them.

So, on his 5th birthday, he "adopted" several doggies, and asked his guests to do the same.

It was a beautiful setting for Matt's birthday, artwork done by the creative parents. Congrats!

At the same time it was a renewal of friendship with Pearl, Dra, Neneng, Christine, their bro and nephews,  nieces and  Axel, the cute baby, was introduced to "society".

Here are some of beautiful/hilarious pix:

Matt's guests

We have two physicians on the house who will take care of us for eating "dog" food.

One happy family

Grandchildren 2014

I am blessed with all my grandchildren,  the cute little angels: Leila Kayelle at 7 years old, Matthew at  five years soon, Alec at one year and three months, and Miguel Tre now a teen er.

I love their visits: each time a different somethings, new delightful antics, their hugs!

It is said that they are more loved than your children, their fruits!
Do you agree to these statement?

Be guided by these Bible verses on grandchildren and grandparents:

Titus 2:1-5  “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.  Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.  Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

Proverbs 16:31  “Gray hair is a of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”

Deuteronomy 4:9  “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”

Proverbs 13:22  “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”

Psalms 103:17  “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children

Isaiah 40:28-31  “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Proverbs 4: 1-27  “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.  I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.  For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.  Then he taught me, and he said to me,  “Take hold of my words with all your heart;  keep my commands, and you will live.  Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.  Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.  The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.  Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.  She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”  Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.  I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.  When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.  Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.  Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.  Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.  For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.  They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.   The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.  But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.   My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;  for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.  Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.  Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.  Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

John 14:1-6  ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   You know the way to the place where I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Psalms 71:9-24  “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.  For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.  They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.”  Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.  May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.  As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.  My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all.  I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.  Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.  Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.   Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things.  Who is like you, God?  Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.  You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.   I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.  My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I whom you have delivered.  My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.”

May the Lord grant us years to see our grandchildren to maturity, and walking with the God Almighty, our Father.

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Happy Birthday, Leila Kayelle