Dear Sons

My darling boys. Oh, how I love you!! Your sticky hugs, your muddy feet, your slobbery kisses, your adorable sayings that bring so much laughter, and your pure goodness. You are so good! I'll be honest though, you push me to my limits every day with your little boy shenanigans. Sometimes, I would prefer to hide under my pillow and pretend that you didn't just throw sugar all over the kitchen or dump out the whole bottle of shampoo...again. Most days I feel like I'm doing it all wrong. I wonder if I'm teaching you the right things, or if we will make the best choices about where to send you to school, or if you will be able to spiritually survive in this crazy world. You are still so little and my heart aches at the things you will be confronted with as you get older. There is so much filth in the world today, and if I could, I would protect you from all of it. But this life is a test. And you will be faced with challenges and heartache, but I want to testify to you that you will NEVER have to face those things alone. As I was raking leaves while you were playing, I overheard you role-playing the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. You ask me every day to tell you that story. To hear your little voices excitedly proclaim, "and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them!" brings peace to my soul. Jesus will always be there with you in your challenges if you let him in as did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when the had faith and chose to keep the commandments rather than fit in. Please remember that as you have faith, you will be delivered from all evil. I read this article today that brought peace to my soul. If God is with us, who can be against us. My valiant little men, stay strong, keep the commandments with exactness, repent every day, and be patient with these parents of yours. And remember that there is so much good in this world too. Be the good in the world. Choose to follow God and fight on His side against the enemy. I know you will be great defenders of righteousness. You already are.