The One About My Kids

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. – 1 Peter 5:7

 

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I’d love the chance today to tell you just a little bit about my children. I marvel at their uniqueness and their courage. They are good and kind and caring, and more than just a little bit funny. Seriously, they have me in stitches much of the time, and I really enjoy spending time with them.

My son is 14. Would you believe me if I told you he writes Christian Rap songs? I know, right!? Crazy talented, that boy of mine.

He’s a deep thinker and an even deeper feeler and I just love watching him create. He can cut a mean dub step, and he has this hat with a cross on it that he insists on wearing at a tilt. I’ve tried, believe me I’ve tried, to turn his interests just a little more toward mainstream. 

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Instead, I find that I am the one changed. I know the lyrics to Christian Rap songs. I know the names of Christian Rap artists and production companies.

I can bust a rhyme with the best of them, and my son even tells me I have “good flow”. Insert crazy bright smile here. 🙂

I also have a daughter (aka “Princess”) who is 11. How is that possible? Sometimes even I don’t know.

She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. She is thoughtful and sharp and scary smart.

She tells her friends about Jesus and she pays even more attention than I do to hemlines and necklines and that sort of thing. 

I knew when she was still in the womb that God had done her a great injustice, giving a tomboy like me a sweet little angel to dress. I mean I can’t even make a french braid. I’ve never made a straight part in my life. Lace scares me. Heels are torture, and I keep my nails short to the quick, just for practicality’s sake. Does this sound like the mother of a precious girl to you? Color me terrified. 

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After 10 years, I have learned the art of layering. I know what chevron pattern is… be impressed, be very impressed. I not only do nails, I buy glitter polish to give them a second coat! And just a few months ago, my daughter declared, right out loud as I put the last flourish on her “do”, “Mom, you should be a hair dresser!” My jaw would have been on the floor, but I was too busy laughing.

Have I suddenly become a fashionista? Um, no. Definitely not. I’m still a moo-moo or sweats kind of gal. My nails are still short, although they frequently sparkle so my daughter and I can be “twinkies”. I hardly ever wear a stitch of makeup and my hair is short like a boys.

Do I wake up with Christian Rap songs flitting through my mind? Do I suddenly find dub-step toe-tapping? Yeah, not. I appreciate the lyrics and sometimes the rhythm, but I don’t ever, ever get the urge to put on some good Christian Rap music when I’m all alone. Ever. 

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Do you know why I care about those things? Those girly and rappy things that are so foreign and uninteresting to me on a normal day? Because my children care about them. That’s why.

I enjoy shopping and watching “What Not to Wear” because my sweet girl is right beside me and her eyes are lit up like Christmas. I study hairdo’s and latest styles so that I can talk with her about things that make her happy. She is the world to me, and I absolutely love the way that she is, even the ways that she is totally different from me.

I spend afternoons listening to new Christian Rap songs and artists because my handsome boy is sitting with me. I learn the lyrics so we can sing the chorus together, and I remember the names because his eyes sparkle when I already know. He is everything to me, and I completely adore everything about him, even if some of his choices are different than mine would be. 

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The next time you’re thinking maybe your cares are petty or your interests are too dull or your life is too silly, please, please remember. Remember that, to God, you are the world.

He absolutely loves the way you are. He completely adores everything about you. He lives to watch your eyes light up and He died so He could spend more moments with you.

Let Him in, won’t you?

 

Heavenly Father, Your love leaves me awestruck. Thank you for just everything. Please help me to remember how very loved I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…


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May God Bless You,

Shelly

26 Comments on “The One About My Kids

    • Thanks for your encouragement, Christiana! Think of us when you’re rapping. haha! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  1. Well this just brought happy tears. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you wrote this and shared. What a delight to get to know your children. WOW. Seriously, I’m all smiles over here from this. DELIGHTFUL! Seriously Shelly, this touched my heart more than I can say. I want to come hug all of you. What a sweet, sweet mother you are and what beautiful children you have. And then how you reminded us “The next time you’re thinking maybe your cares are petty or your interests are too dull or your life is too silly, please, please remember. Remember that, to God, you are the world.”
    LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
    Beth recently posted…A different kind of randomnessMy Profile

    • Aw, Beth, happy tears here too, reading this comment! One day I hope we can hug in real life. But for now, know that I LOVE YOU and am sending squeezy heart hugs! <3

  2. Oh, thank you so much for sharing about your children. What wonderful blessings you have! I know they are the delight of your days and a comfort at night. So glad to hear about your blesings as a mother. They are your treasures. 🙂
    Cathy recently posted…Greatness In A Crowd So Young!My Profile

    • They are indeed my treasures, Cathy! Thanks for indulging me as I wrote about them. 🙂 God has blessed me richly. Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  3. I loved your post. I wish I could show pictures of my sons on my blog but they are both against that. I enjoyed what you wrote and could feel the love you have for your children.

    • Thank you, Angie! It was a joy to write about them, and they were both surprised about what I wrote. Just proves that we never see ourselves clearly, because everything I wrote was truth, pure and simple. Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  4. Shelly, I enjoyed “meeting” your children. It is amazing how our children burst into our lives with their own personalities and make our lives all the richer. You have beautiful children & I was so glad you shared them! May God continue to be with & bless your family! Much love to you!
    Joanne+Viola recently posted…What if?My Profile

    • Thank you, Joanne! They light up my life, for sure! Love you! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  5. How thoughtful of you to share your treasures with us- it was a pleasure to read about their awesomeness, which we know they got at least in part from their ma. lovely precious kids Shelly – you have every right to be a proud mama.

    Love to you,

    ALL>

    Mary.

    • Aw, thank you, Mary! They are my treasures! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  6. Shelly!

    These love-letters just flowed into words and then into sentences and right into my heart as I read about your wonderful children. Oh, such precious souls – such gifts that God gave to you and your husband – and you both to them. How I loved meeting ( and seeing ) them.

    I can hear the sounds in your home and they bring joy to me!

    Love, Lynn

    • Aw, Lynn! Your sweet comment brought a smile to my heart this morning! Thank you! Love you! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  7. I loved reading your love for your kids. My oldest is also 14, also a son, also a little quirky (band kid). I just kept thinking how they’d appreciate one another. Your daughter is beautiful 🙂 Visiting from Jen’s: glad to meet you!
    Brandee recently posted…American Museum of Science and EnergyMy Profile

    • Hi, Brandee! I bet they would get along wonderfully! 🙂 It’s great to meet you, Sister! Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

    • I love you more, Beautiful Princess! <3 xoxoxoxo Mommy

  8. Mommy,that is so sweet it makes me smile everytime i read this 🙂 i dont know why but keep going to this story on renewed daily because it makes me smile
    it makes me happy to know you love me that much :,) im glad your my mom i wouldnt want anyone else to be at all and even though we have rough times
    you still love me dearly and its sweet of you to find hairstyles and buy nailpolish and watch girly i mean GIRLY show that
    i just love and it just makes me happy..keep writing on renewed daily your a huge inpiration to everybody.:-)

    Love you!!
    Carissa

    • Carissa, God gave me the most precious treasure when He gave me YOU. I love you more!! xoxoxox, Mom

  9. Ehehehehehehehee nahhhhhhh i love you more mommy :-):-)oh and can we watch a movie tonight??” ANd thats more randomnness from the awesomeness of meee xD lol

  10. Dear Shelly,
    Thank you for sharing more about your beautiful children. I can see Jesus in their faces. I would love to hear one of your sons rap songs…and you singing! I love to sing but have a short range of notes I can carry. If I was closer, I’d teach you how to French braid. Having one daughter in the 1980’s, it was a must to learn that skill!
    I love reading everything you write…it is a gift to us…your readers:))

    • Aw, thank you, sweet Linda! I would love to learn how to french braid, and I’m sure that our Father would just love to hear us sing together!! YOU are a gift to me, dear friend! Love you. Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

  11. Pingback: Review of Catie Conrad: Faith, Friendship, and Fashion Disasters (The Desperate Diva Diaries Series) - Renewed Daily

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