I’m mixing ground beef with eggs and breadcrumbs, shaping it into patties. Art’s at work, Pandora is providing a soundtrack to my early evening, and outside the wind whips and passing cars’ headlights reveal the fine snow blowing from the sky.
The kids are playing hide and seek. I listen as Stinky counts to twenty, hear the snicker of Bubs hiding in the closet. Then– “READY OR NOT, HERE WE COME!” and the searching begins. “Where should we look, Squeezy? Where’s Bubs?” His voice is patient and sweet. He lets her guide him upstairs, knowing full well where their brother hides. Finally after many two-year-old detours past the dollies and the book about Alice and the button that sings the ABC song, he gently points her in the right direction and SURPRISE! Bubs has been found.
Later, with the hamburgers sizzling on the stove, I slice tomatoes as Bubs guides Squeezy in the proper deployment of a Nerf gun. “See? You just put the dart here, and then you pull this back. Good job! Now aim at the window. Ready? Pull the trigger!” She is six inches from the window and the dart bounces off and flies over her head and we all laugh.
I am not a perfect mother. I look in the mirror of my children every day and see my own failings written across their freckled noses, their bespectacled eyes, their grinning mouths. I hear my weaknesses in their voices and my struggles in their shrieks of anger. And so I know this. This little family of ours– these boys who so passionately and patiently love their little sister– this is nothing but a gift of His grace.
And it makes me smile.
********
Linking today with
Bigger Picture Moments at (just) Lenae
Let’s Hear It for the Boys at the MOB Society
Together for Good 
I was glad to see you on theTwitter this morning – and glad for these moments of yours, shared with us. I’ve been so busy, I’ve not had time to come over here often, but I think of you, and I miss you.
Perfectly imperfect. As I look back to when my kids were little it is moments like this that make me smile the most. Just the muddling through together connected by love.
I can so relate. Always keeping eyes open to the graces!
Blessings!
What sweet big brothers! You painted a beautiful picture of family life. Being a mother truly is a gift.
I love the sound of my boys playing together. If we were perfect they would never learn to love. This is a beautiful post.
Sweet grace. We are not perfect mothers but thankfully we are perfect for our kids!
That dear sibling love makes e fear I will never be able to stop having kids, I always want to know what they will be like as the big brother/sister!
This is beautiful and I simply love the honesty and balancing the sweet moment with the kids with your idea of seeing your failings on their faces…it resonates with me for sure.
you make me smile when i visit here too, erin. make me have happy and thoughtful and spirit stirring tears too.
all is grace, isn’t it.
Beautifully written!
Oh, I notice my failings in my kids too, and you are so right that the blessings of their joy and purity, quick forgiveness and love, cover the shame of my shortcomings. What an eloquent and on-point observation — I love this.
I love this . . . viewing sibling love as a gift of grace! You have the gift of putting truth into beautiful words. Thank you, Erin.