One thing that has been instilled in Joel's life is caring about others before yourself. He is still learning it, but he does care a lot about others. Just has a hard time at times at homes showing it, but what child doesn't.
It says in the Bible (can't remember the exact verse) that a Child shall lead. Children are such neat little people really. They all seem to have a heart of gold. They are easy at times to forgive a friend when they get in a fight over a ball, have a love that can be unconditional to their parents, their gift of wanting to learn everything is just amazing (that we as parents wished would follow in years to come as teens, but sometimes it doesn't).
Joel is truly my reminder of what God wants me to see, and know. Joel loves to do things for others. He loves to make pictures when family are in hospital or sick. Sometimes he tells me he wishes everyone to get along and be friends.
When we were shopping for Valentines for Preschool and Day Care last month Joel shocked me out of the blue with a question, or I should say a loving thought in his mind, and I could not say no, because what if I would of. Joel said, "Mommy what about the sick kids in the hospital, can we give them one?" I stopped dead in my tracks. I had to think just a moment before I answered. Money in February is the tightest for me, because I have some added bills that are just once a year, but at the same time I did not want to deny my child of wanting to show the love of Jesus through giving just a simple Valentine. To me the cost of brightening a child's day is priceless. So, I told Joel it was a very good idea, and that we would. We left with 4 extra boxes of Valentines because Joel wanted to make sure there was enough plus 2 boxes were for boys, and 2 for girls.
Joel helped sign all 128 extra valentines (for a 5 year old that is a lot). Yesterday we took all Valentines to the sick children before he went to school. We had to drive them to DSM to the children's hospital there. We took 1 box to the doctor's office where Joel's doctor is, 1 box went to the ER, and 2 boxes went to the children on the floors. We were unable to see any of the children, but it didn't matter to us. What mattered is a little boy wanted to share the love of Jesus to other children. As Joel was signing the cards he told me, "Mommy, I hope that the kids know that Jesus loves them."
I am not trying to boast in what my child did, or what we did for the children. My son didn't do it to be prideful (he still too young to know what it is), he did it to show WHO JESUS IS! I just wanted to share that sometimes our children are telling us something that God wants us to know. Children are our future. Children can teach us adults lessons just like my son did to me. The extra couple of dollars spent meant a lot to God, those children, and so my son. My son learned that giving = loving others. So, maybe next time we get caught up in all they drama of how much to spend for Valentines, or how will it make our ownselves look. Think like a child did. Just do something caring show you care. It dont have to be fancy. Still a day later Joel has not opened any of his Valentines from his friends. He just talks about and prays that the sick children enjoyed theirs.
I rewarded my son for his love for others yesterday last night, because he listened to God, didn't think about what he wanted, and taught me that sometimes we need to have a child-like heart for others. So, I asked him what we wanted for dinner. He wanted to go out to eat at his favorite resturant BangBang, but settled for homemade, and he even asked to invite his godparents. So they came and we ate and played Bingo together. I gave him a valentine gift. He told me he was sad. I asked why, and he said, "Cause I have nothing to give you." I told him he gave me the very best Valentines gift ever. He asked what was it. I said teaching me that when it comes to loving and caring about others just like Jesus that money does not matter.
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