10 "S" 6 minutes and 49 seconds.

2 songs. 6 minutes and 49 seconds.

The amount of time it took to soften a boy's heart.
The amount of time it took to remind a mommy of what is important.
The amount of time that grows parenting from a have to an "I get to".

Tonight when I went to tuck in I knew Aidan was super bummed that he got no "freetime" at home. We walked in the door at 8 tonight for the first time all day and the boys still had homework to do. Aidan finished and had to go right to bed and I saw it. I totally saw hardened heart as he sat in his bed ready to get tucked in. And so I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and I told him I had something for him and I put on the song "Awesome God" because he always wants me to sing that song to him and I feel like I am always screwing up the words. So I played it and sand along and rubbed his back (his favorite). No words were exchanged, they didn't need to be. The song ended and he quietly whispered, "can you rub my back a little more?". So I let Rich play on and as the next song filled his bed with calmness I knew. I knew that taking time to invest these few minutes makes all the difference between a boy that knows I care and a boy that just gets rushed to bed because it is past his bedtime. We listened together. We prayed. And that boy had a changed heart in that time. I knew it and I smiled.

What else do I need to invest 6 minutes and 49 seconds in to make all the difference in the world?

#9 "S" No negotiating.

This says it all right now.  If there is any reminder I needed this weekend it was this. I have a lot of junk to dump right now but I'm pretty sure God is ok with just taking me as I am. No questions asked. No judgement. No negotiating. Just like the story of the prodigal son. He is for me not against me. Awesome.

"Drops In The Ocean"

I want you as you are, not as you ought to be
Won't you lay down your guard and come to me
The shame that grips you now is crippling
It breaks my heart to see you suffering
Cause I am for you
I'm not against you
If you wanna know
How far my love can go
Just how deep, just how wide
If you wanna see
How much you mean to me
Look at my hands, look at my side
If you could count the times I'd say you are forgiven
It's more than the drops in the ocean
Don't think you need to settle for a substitute
When I'm the only love that changes you
And I am for you
I'm not against you
I am for you
I'm not against you
If you wanna know
How far my love can go
Just how deep, just how wide
If you wanna see
How much you mean to me
Look at my hands, look at my side
If you could count the times I'd say you are forgiven
It's more than the drops in the ocean
Open your heart
It's time that we start again
Open your heart
It's time that we start again
If you wanna know
How far my love can go
Just how deep, just how wide
If you wanna see
How much you mean to me
Look at my hands, look at my side
If you could count the times I'd say you are forgiven
It's more than the drops in the ocean
The drops in the ocean
I am for you
I'm not against you
I am for you
I'm not against you