Worth It

Kids...a total pain or worth it? Being completely honest, there are days when I find myself asking this question [if you read my last post you might understand why]. Sometimes there are whole weeks when I'm asking this question [and feeling guilty for it]. But to sum up what I've learned about working with kids [paraphrased from a scene in the new movie the Back-up Plan [think Jennifer Lopez]:

Scared dad to be: How is it? Being a parent?
Dad: Well, it's awful. Really awful. And then it's awful some more.
Scared dad to be: Really?
Dad: Yeah. But then there's these moments, you know. And suddenly it all seems worth it.

Days of hard work. Frustration. Disobedience. Defiance. Repeating yourself ONE MILLION times. Thinking they might NEVER get it. And then...a moment. Of insight, of obedience, of sweetness. And you realize that you might have been getting through all along. It can be as simple as a little hand reaching out to hold yours, a surprise hug, a teen who finally opens up and shares for the first time, a kid who says, "I missed you." It's really the little things. And they absolutely, positively, make it WORTH IT.