I'm Ornery and I Know It

I love my son, I really do. He’s got a big personality that commands a lot of attention, a smile that is contagious, great laughter and expressions, and loves all things boy. He is completely different from my daughter and is a wonderful reminder how uniquely created each one of us is. No two are alike!

But behind that belly-laugh and contagious smile is that look in his eye that says, “I’m ornery and I know it.” If you have a child with this look, then you know what I’m talking about.

Today I brought up a new easel for the kids with a chalkboard on one side and dry-erase board on the other. I purposely turned the easel so that the dry-erase side would be facing the wall. I placed the chalk out, and what does the little man do? He pushes the easel out and writes all over the dry-erase side of it! He runs away with the chalk, he tries to erase our freshly painted walls with the dirty eraser. And he does it all with a little grin on his face that says, “I’m ornery and I know it.”

The highlight of this declaration came when he looked at me with the look of disobedience. He was going to start coloring that dry-erase side with chalk for the 15th time, but before he began his work, he looked at me and started humming a tune. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so…” Is that coincidental or what?! Whatever it was, it was a great reminder to love that little boy like Jesus loves us. He loves us despite our flaws and disobedience, and there’s more than enough grace to cover our repeated mistakes.

Maybe he was trying to send me a message. Love me like Jesus loves me. Now that’s a challenging thought for the day!