Loved reading this and laughing as old images came to heart of my own kiddos growing up.
“The toilet is NOT self-cleaning. You need to clean it your self.”
Good news! Once they acclimate to life in their own apartment (dorms are not the same) , they will suddenly recall every lesson you didn’t realize they grasped. Thanks for the giggle.
PS. You opened with GAL 6:9 and it was like a big hug to me. It’s been my life verse for over two decades. 💜✝️💜
Maury, one day your kids will call you on the phone just to say “You were right. It’s so much better to ….” Or. “I am sorry I gave you grief and left dishes in the sink —-now, I get it”.
Fill in the blanks with whatever your most common issue may be. But, at some point, I believe every good parent hears those words.
There's lots of apologies for their messes (physical and metaphorical) and plenty of nods of understanding by the parents (your kids) as you return their kids (your grandkids) back to them with sugar highs when they get too messy. 😂
Step five isn’t dramatic; it’s repetitive, unseen, and rarely rewarding in the moment. But you’re right to frame it as the place where faith is actually practiced, not just affirmed. Anyone can start strong. Anyone can talk about standards. But showing up again when the task is already “basically done” feels a lot closer to the daily shape of faithfulness than the big, inspiring moments we tend to celebrate.
What stayed with me is the honesty that you don’t always have a clean legal case yourself—and you keep showing up anyway. That feels like the quiet heart of discipleship: not perfection, not control, but consistency rooted in love and time. The reminder that one day the arguments won’t be about backpacks and socks reframes the whole thing. Step five isn’t really about finishing tasks; it’s about forming people while there’s still room to be formed together.
I've been shot down by some for saying we are trying to be perfect. I always told my students, that if you shoot for a 100 on a test and miss, you probably will still get an A. But, if you shoot to pass and you miss, then things might not work out for you. It is all about the pursuit.
1. I did a garden last year and was shocked by how much work it was. When it was in the 90s and really humid each day after work, I was tempted to pull the plants up early, but worked the garden until the plants were done.
2. More food for my family that we love. You cannot beat the taste. I thought I did not like tomatoes until growing my own. Plus, it feels good to know what went into the food you are eating.
3. Quality time with the family, teaching my children a useful skill, and cutting down on the grocery bill a bit. God could be using my consistency here to build a positive hobby for my children to inherit. Gardens help build relationships so there is no telling what giving away a little surplus could turn into.
Those are also great memories you building. I still talk about the garden we had growing up. We only grow tomato plants and herbs in our backyard garden now. The kids go on and on about how much better the tomatoes taste. Also, I let some of the tomatoes fall into the soil and become next year’s plants. I have bought tomato plants in a couple of years. Thanks for sharing your life!
Thanks for sharing this with a big family it always feels like we’re never completing anything but I really appreciate the encouragement to keep striving!
Loved reading this and laughing as old images came to heart of my own kiddos growing up.
“The toilet is NOT self-cleaning. You need to clean it your self.”
Good news! Once they acclimate to life in their own apartment (dorms are not the same) , they will suddenly recall every lesson you didn’t realize they grasped. Thanks for the giggle.
PS. You opened with GAL 6:9 and it was like a big hug to me. It’s been my life verse for over two decades. 💜✝️💜
Thank you, Carol. We're hoping something sticks lol.
Maury, one day your kids will call you on the phone just to say “You were right. It’s so much better to ….” Or. “I am sorry I gave you grief and left dishes in the sink —-now, I get it”.
Fill in the blanks with whatever your most common issue may be. But, at some point, I believe every good parent hears those words.
Thank you so much, Carol. Please keep commenting on these posts. You made my night!
"One day, the backpacks won’t be in the living room or the hallway.
We won’t be having conversations about the definition of a cleaned room.
They’ll be about college decisions. Moving out. Weddings."
AND And their kids (your grandkids) skipping step 5! 😂
Oh, I can’t wait until those phone calls. “How does that feel?” lol
There's lots of apologies for their messes (physical and metaphorical) and plenty of nods of understanding by the parents (your kids) as you return their kids (your grandkids) back to them with sugar highs when they get too messy. 😂
Step five isn’t dramatic; it’s repetitive, unseen, and rarely rewarding in the moment. But you’re right to frame it as the place where faith is actually practiced, not just affirmed. Anyone can start strong. Anyone can talk about standards. But showing up again when the task is already “basically done” feels a lot closer to the daily shape of faithfulness than the big, inspiring moments we tend to celebrate.
What stayed with me is the honesty that you don’t always have a clean legal case yourself—and you keep showing up anyway. That feels like the quiet heart of discipleship: not perfection, not control, but consistency rooted in love and time. The reminder that one day the arguments won’t be about backpacks and socks reframes the whole thing. Step five isn’t really about finishing tasks; it’s about forming people while there’s still room to be formed together.
https://theeternalnowmm.substack.com/p/seeing-clearly-lenses-history-and?r=71z4jh
Thank you so much, M.A.
I love that quote too! It's all about the pursuit.
I've been shot down by some for saying we are trying to be perfect. I always told my students, that if you shoot for a 100 on a test and miss, you probably will still get an A. But, if you shoot to pass and you miss, then things might not work out for you. It is all about the pursuit.
1. I did a garden last year and was shocked by how much work it was. When it was in the 90s and really humid each day after work, I was tempted to pull the plants up early, but worked the garden until the plants were done.
2. More food for my family that we love. You cannot beat the taste. I thought I did not like tomatoes until growing my own. Plus, it feels good to know what went into the food you are eating.
3. Quality time with the family, teaching my children a useful skill, and cutting down on the grocery bill a bit. God could be using my consistency here to build a positive hobby for my children to inherit. Gardens help build relationships so there is no telling what giving away a little surplus could turn into.
Those are also great memories you building. I still talk about the garden we had growing up. We only grow tomato plants and herbs in our backyard garden now. The kids go on and on about how much better the tomatoes taste. Also, I let some of the tomatoes fall into the soil and become next year’s plants. I have bought tomato plants in a couple of years. Thanks for sharing your life!
More of this!
Thanks so much!!
There’s plenty more on my profile and more to come, lol. Trust me. These four kids have taken giving me stuff to write about more as a challenge.
Thanks for sharing this with a big family it always feels like we’re never completing anything but I really appreciate the encouragement to keep striving!
That's about all we can do, lol. Thanks for reading.