Well so much for being perfect. On my never successful quest for perfection - I have found two things (actually many more, but for now, we will stick with two) that make me look straight in the mirror and say, "Shari, perfect, you are not." One is this blog. I began it several months ago (seven to be exact, but who's counting?) with one goal in mind - write something daily. Yes, that was seven months ago - the first time I wrote in this blog where I stated my goal and that same month where my goal was despicably missed and has been ever since.The second, Break the Ice. The pre-school game of skill and precision where NO ONE is able to accomplish the goal of not breaking the ice. First of all, why is the name of the game, "Break the Ice" when the goal of the game is to not break the ice? Aren't those 'game' type people who come up with these silly games setting you and your pre-schooler up for failure from the very beginning? Personally, I just don't need anymore failures in my life and I'm pretty sure Lucas is going to have plenty as well down the road - but since I'm the mother that I am I sat down to play break the ice with Lucas again today. After pulling the millions of ice cube pieces out of the box along with the ice 'frame' that I was never able to get back in the box from the last time we 'played'. We sat down and started.
Now, for those of you not familiar with this game, let me explain. There are a bazillion ice cube prototype thingys (yes, that is the technical term on the directions) and the goal is to build them in the middle of these two blue frames - picture for a moment a skating rink made of ice cubes. Stupid isn't it. Should of known the game would be as well. Then, you put a little bear in the middle of the ice (poor guy) IF you are able to build the ice rink out of the ice cubes in the first place. That is your first goal - to build the rink without the ice falling thru. If you can accomplish this feat, in Lucas' and I's world you have already won the game. Now, if you are one of those 'advanced' game players you would continue to play by trying to chip away the ice cubes. Yes, remove them - after you just spent three hours trying to put the things together - you are now trying to take them apart. One by one with your ice chipper - and to do it in a way that your little red bear does not fall thru the ice.
Now, picture this game, me and my limited knowledge of the word patience and my four year old. As we begin, Lucas already knows that "Break the Ice" is not Mommy's favorite game and I am playing it with him purely out of love and devotion for him (plus a bit of guilt that he just got done watching a movie while I was on facebook). So, he is on guard for any frustration that Mommy might be coming to as she is building the ice.
At one point in the game I was faced with a teaching moment I don't get that often. Lucas allowed me to help him with his 'removal of the ice cube' from the ice rink. Lucas', being the independent child that he is, always wants to do things on his own. This was my chance to show him the patience and precise hand that his dear old mom has and hopefully teach him by example just what to do in a stressful situation just as this. As we went in for the delicate extraction of the chosen piece of plastic ice I could tell he was watching me for my reaction as to what was about to happen. We 'tinked, tinked, tinked' away at the ice and suddenly, kabamm, it was gone.
I don't think I need to go into the full play by play of the other games we attempted. But, to give you a clue it ended with Lucas and I playing basketball with the ice chunks and then cleaning up all the pieces, shoving them halfway back inside the box and the box going into the garage sale pile.
Why do I share this event as part of our family story? Because, I think it highlights a lot of what me as a mom and us as a family sometimes strive for and can never reach - perfection. As God continues to reveal Himself to me (oh, how grateful am I for that) I am learning that perfect is not what He wants from us. He wants us to be broken, frustrated, inpatient and defeated so that we realize that is only in Him that we have victory... and therefore we are perfect in His sight just as we are. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). We just have to go as far as a beloved Sunday School song to hear, "For I am weak, He is strong".
So, I strive to encourage my boys (even the big one in the house) that Christ's strength is made perfect in our weakness. And although I really wanted to throw "break the ice" thru the window as well as my insufficiency in keeping up with my goals of this blog, I realize that without those things, there would be no need for Jesus.
Now, I just know that when I get to heaven someday - Jesus is going to be sitting in heaven with a "Break the Ice" game and He is going to show me how the Master plays. I'm pretty sure I will enjoy that game.
And, yes, that is Aidan and Lucas in snuggies above and neither of them are afraid to show them off proudly! I'm one proud mama!
