Snowflakes....

Happy New Year(as if you haven't heard that 5 thousand times all ready!!). As you can tell, I took some time off but I'm back...

The morning sky is spitting snow flurries today, which my children excitedly take for snow flakes. Two totally different things to adults but to kids they're one in the same. But none the less, they bring excitement and the hope that school will be canceled.

So my daughter, Claire, and I were looking out the window into the backyard this morning looking at the snow falling. When she made a very simple but profound statement. She said:"Mom, do you see the snow on the top of the thing that holds the hose? If you look very closely at the snow flakes (that have landed there), you will see that they are all different."

They are all different....

Now Claire has not realized the profound statement that she has made to her mother, nor did she have any idea that it would end up as the start to a blog post! But here goes...

God used this moment for me to remember that though women may appear similar on the outside they are a total "one-of-a-kind" on the inside. In ministering to them whether it be through coordinating Bible studies, bringing a meal, or just being a friend they all require a unique and specific approach. There is no "one size fits all" mentality here, there can't be! We were all fearfully and wonderfully made by God with qualities unique to how He made us for the purpose that He has called us to.

Think about your friends... Do you interact the same way with each friend in your circle of relationships? I thought I did until I really started to think about it... See what you find to be true for you.

There's more.....

My kids!!! For so long I've wanted them to be predictable (you know you want that to, otherwise we wouldn't try so hard to get babies on a schedule!!!). How much simpler would life be if your kids (in my case 4!) were predictable like the snow flurries (flakes, if you're a kid at heart!!). When they begin falling down you pretty much know that they're going to land on the ground somewhere. They look pretty similar to one another in size and shape on the outside. They'll generally last as long as it stays cold enough and then they'll melt when it gets warmer. Again, don't you wish your kids were that predictable?!

OK, maybe not that predictable....

Claire's profound statement rings true again. While my kids appear very similar on the outside (have you seen my kids?), the truth is is that they're totally different on the inside. There's for sure not a one-size fits all category for parenting this crazy brood of kids!! So I'm reminded again, that when I look at what's on the inside (figuratively speaking of course because my 7 year old would totally want to do that!!!) my four are completely and totally different. They're created with different talents, goals, tastes, dispositions, and range of emotions just to name a few. For instance, my "spicy" one is also my most nurturing and caring while my laid back one is the most imaginative. So the best plan of discipline for Tucker is not the best for Jack nor the best plan for Claire nor for Ellie. The talents that need to be nurtured in one are not the same for the others. You get the picture here I'm sure!!! Do you have some "snowflakes" at home that you need to reexamine? I know I do!!!

So snow flakes are beautiful falling from the sky together but they're extraordinary when you stop to look at how different they truly are!