This afternoon I visited with Christian’s 3rd grade teacher and Gabriel’s Kindergarten teacher for the first quarter conferences. Christian’s teacher also had Morgan as a student, and so did Gabriel’s teacher. Both of the conferences went pretty well – more so Gabriel’s than Christian’s. God has been so good to us that so far each of our children have yet to struggle with academics in class. If there were issues, they were generally behavioral. Christian has a joy for life in general like no one I know. He has a surprising comprehension of situations, ideas, and logic that just stuns me sometimes. And, he is the most affectionate child in our home, since the day that he was born. That said, you will know that this last statement is likely the underlying cause for the next statement! Christian has trouble focusing, paying attention and being respectful of any speaking/teaching that is going on around him. When I talk to him and he is buzzing around, I suppose I’ve just gotten used to his being a boy and I believe that for the most part he does hear me but he likes the “shoulder to shoulder” way of comprehending. Maybe I’m giving him too much credit. Or, more likely, I am just able to deal better with him since I cannot resist him! His teacher doesn’t feel the same, and rightfully so. Some of these things were discussed, and I praise the Lord for a heart to hear the teacher in her distress, and to realize that Christian needs me to help him focus.
Once at home, Christian and Gabriel and I talked about all the things I heard from their teachers. Gabriel, I was shown, needs a little more organizational work. Just as he drops his coat and hat and backpack where he stands when he arrives home, well, that’s how he shows up in the classroom as well. So we’ll be working on that with Gabriel and with the other boys too – mostly Morgan doesn’t need to be told, but certainly Christian and Tyler need a little help. Christian continued to be “unfocused” in his usually funny way as we talked about what the teacher said, but he was obedient and respectful as I explained why this is so important. I can see that it is a bit of a struggle for him to sit still, but his heart is good, and he generally wants to do the right thing when he is clear what that is.
So tonight, we are getting ready for bed. I tell him that he needs to read to Gabriel and I for a little while, and he willingly says that he wants to read his bible to us. We found him a more “kid-friendly” version – one that Mom Perry bought for Morgan when he was baptized in 2005 after we moved here to Pennsylvania. He read Genesis 1 out loud, and he tried hard to correct the inflections of his voice as he encountered commas, periods, and statements. He really is a blessing – I just bring something to his attention and he goes right on trying to do it the way he should. Wow. After a bit I told him that it was bedtime, but he wanted to keep reading. He said he is going to read from the bible every day. I told him how God will bless him if he does that, and, that it will make him wise like King Solomon. He said, “yeah, I’ll be wise and I’m so much younger than he was!”. So I gave him a “taco” (wrapping him in a blanket like a burrito and then placing him under his covers) and a “book light” of sorts. As I walked out of the room and looked back, the picture above is what I saw, and it just moved me to capture this moment. I pray he keeps his word to read it every night.
I couldn’t love him more. Thank you Lord, for Christian’s life, and for blessing me with the stewardship of it.
