Mom Heart Moments #262

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

WHICH PERSONALITY TYPES ARE THE most acceptable? Quiet or loud? Intellectual or artistic? Driven or gentle? Humorous or serious?

Early one morning, my little chatterbox boy ran into the room, jumped on the couch next to me, snuggled, and said, “Come on, admit it, Mama! You must love me the best, because I am the most fun of all your kids.”

Followed by, “Nuh-uh! She loves me best because I help her the most and you just get into trouble!”

And so the conversation escalated. My answer: “I love you the Nathan-est! I love you the Joy-est! You each have a place in my heart that only you can fit.”

We live in a world that values conformity. We want to use our force, our power, our authority to make people, and our children, fit into the box. Be good. Be tame. Be moral. Don’t bring attention to yourself. Don’t contend or question the norm.

All the personalities in our house have pushed my buttons through the years, but they have humbled me, too, in a good way. I know for sure that I cannot control my children —they are free agents with wills and desires and dreams, all unique to the call on their lives and the personalities God gave them.

No matter what personality each has, I am called to shepherd them to love God, to teach and train them to have the character they will need to complete the tasks God gives them to do in their lifetimes. Most importantly, I am called not to control but to release them into His hands to live out their uniqueness in a world that needs them to sparkle as God made them.

Do you have many personalities in your house too? Today, thank God for all the opportunities He gives you to learn humility and patience!