conversations from my car

So all week, Drew's had this friend over.  Well...almost all week.  Last night Drew spent the night with this friend, then today we all went to lunch with my mom.  The sweetest conversation took place in the car, and I thought I would share it.  {This will make his friend's mama feel proud, too, because he said some amazing things about her.}

It all started when Drew's friend asked him what he was good at.  Drew didn't really know how to answer, so I piped up and said that Drew was really good at researching and learning how to do something.  He used to love to sit and watch a YouTube video on how to make origami, then make whatever it was he was trying to learn.  He has a box full of creations upstairs in his closet.

Drew also loves to draw, and is super creative.  I have this "mom book" that I keep, which is nothing but a huge binder full of stuff they've made for me over the years.  I also have our beloved Mr. Paul's funeral program in there, and some pictures with him and the boys, along with letters from students I've gotten over the years when I worked at our local elementary school.  I also rotate "fridge art" that way...when something new goes up on the fridge, the old stuff goes in the "mom book".  {That's a lot of "quotations".}  I keep everything inside page protectors, which, in my opinion, are the greatest creation ever since sliced bread.  If you have a lot of "stuff" that you get blessed with by your kids, you should try my method of saving it~it's super easy, and it's really handy.  I keep it in one of my kitchen cabinets, so I can always pull it out.

Back to our conversation in the car:

Drew's friend said his younger sister was really good at volleyball, and that she is smart.

I shared that Graham is really good at speaking/singing/praying in front of people.  And he is...he has never met a stranger, and there is not a shy bone in his body.  I wish I'd been that fearless when I was his age!  At fourteen, I was shy and bashful...I know...you would never guess that now, right?

Jonah shared that Noah is really good at gymnastics...and that he's really strong.

I shared that Jonah is a really great hard-worker.  For example, one Saturday we got out to my mom's house early, and Jonah noticed that Big Daddy was picking up shingles that had blown off their roof during a storm one night.  Jonah jumped right in and started helping him.  He might be small, but he is mighty, and is the hardest working child I've ever seen.

Drew's friend shared that his mom was wonderful at encouraging people...for instance, she might say, "I know you don't think that this can happen, but with God, ANYTHING can happen!"  {Is that not the greatest compliment ever?}

Drew shared that I was good at memorizing Scripture, and that I knew a Bible verse for anything.

Noah said that I was great at drawing.

And Graham shared that he thought I was good at encouraging people.

Whew.  Y'all, my heart was blessed today.  This sweet friend of Drew's {I know I keep calling him that instead of his name, but this blog is public, and I'm not sure how his mom would feel if his name was on here.} is a gift to my son.  I am not even kidding...and to be so young, he's seen his precious mom suffer with illnesses.  But he is full of faith, is smart, pleasant to be around, full of amazingly good manners and is just a joy to be around.

I can't say that about everyone, but I can this friend.  I can promise you that this conversation started completely on its own~the only thing I did was answer when he asked Drew what he thought he was good at.

It's nice to encouraged every once in a while, though, isn't it?  I think all my kids needed to hear this today...I know I was blessed because of it.  And right after Graham said that I was also great at crying, I seriously teared up over the love I felt in my car.  I felt God's presence all around us, and I think He was blessed, too.

May I encourage you to have a conversation like this with your kids?  We all can get kinda down-in-the-dumps, and I think it's very important that we all uplift one another.  I cling to Ephesians 4:29:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful in building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Precious and wonderful mama's~build, build and build up your kids some more!!!  I know that God alone should be our confidence, but at a young age, all confidence should be taught to them by their parents.  They should hear your praise often.  It doesn't take long~have a conversation in your car, or around the dinner table tonight, or write a letter to them {that is one reason why I write on this blog and why I journal~I consider that my "letters" to my family}...it doesn't matter how you go about doing it.  Just do it.  It is one of THE most important things you can ever do for your kids.  They're only young once.

If I come across "braggy" in this post, please accept my apology...I assure you, that was not my intention when writing this.

As the Scriptures say, "If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord."  {2 Corinthians 10:17}

Thank you for reading!  Love to all.