This picture defines the stage we are at with our son.   Notice his posture?  He is on the move from dawn to dusk and every day is a full-blown effort to shape his rebellious will.  And he’s so stinkin’ cute…

We ‘dare to discipline’ and are in daily need of grace from the Holy Spirit.  Training the natural curiosities of this small person to remain within expected boundaries is a challege unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.  

With God’s help, we hope to train his heart and mind to respect and obey the everyday limits of behavior, not only for our sanity, but so that he will grow up and mature into a responsible young man, capable of self-control and self-government. 

 It’s a daunting task, but the Lord has promised his provision and He is faithful to help us.  We love this little guy to the moon and back,and so we’ll push on, believing the scriptures to be true that “he who spares the rod, hates his son,” (Prov. 13:24) and “no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peace-able fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  (Heb. 12:11)