What did you just say???

Sometimes our precious children say the darndest things don't they? Well, just a bit ago, Joshua did just that. We were coming downstairs and he wanted to "win" and be the first at the bottom of the stairs, as always. But I told him it was my turn and I was ahead so I "won." He wasn't very happy (sore loser) and told me in no uncertain terms that if "you win again you'll be dead!" I immediately put him in time-out (which we're phasing out but in this situation, I felt needed a bit of cooling off and time to "think/talk about it").

I remained calm and surprisingly never cried. You see, many moons ago, my oldest daughter, Bridgette, told me one time that she hated me (she was a small child when this happened) and I cried my eyes right out. She came in the bathroom where I was crying and realized what impact she'd had on me after saying such a horrid thing to me. She apologized up and down to me over and over and NEVER said anything of the sort again, at least not to me....lol. Nikki never said anything like that to me before. So, today was really something of a shocker of sorts.

I know he's almost 4 (will be 4 on the 20th of this month) and most likely doesn't understand totally about death. But I want him to realize that this is one of the meanest things one can say to another person and he shouldn't say it at all. I wanted this to have an impact.....not just casually saying it in passing after he said it, ya know. I only had him sitting there for a minute or so when I went to him and asked him why he would say such a thing as he wanted me dead. He said, "because you won." me: "do you know what dead means?" him: "it means you're like this...." he put his hand out straight and didn't move it, "...and you never move it again." me: "So you sorta understand about being dead?" He shook his head yes. I then went on to say, "you know that dead means that I would never see you again, I'd never be able to take you anywhere, or buy you anything again." He then started to cry and said, "You mean only daddy would take me places?" me: "yes" Him: (crying) "I don't want that!" me: "That is why you never say anything like that, ok?" He shook his head yes emphatically.

Well, I'm alive and well, hopefully for a LONG stinkin' time!! LOL! God still isn't finished with me yet. I'm a wife and mother of 3 amazing children. I work at a church as the Administrative Assistant and feel that is a ministry in itself. I have a lot left to do......I want to go on a Mission Trip someday. I've wanted to since I was a teenager and was going to go to Saltillo, Mexico with our Church youth group and couldn't go because I'd gotten into a bad car accident. My mom wouldn't let me go because I had a blood clot on my brain and thought that in case something happened while there and I needed immediate medical attention, I would be sunk. I can tell you honestly, I was sooo angry at the time that she didn't let me go. I didn't understand....but I was a dumb teenager looking at the situation with a 16 year old mind. Now, looking back with a 44 year old mind, I know my mom made the right decision. But, I've still not gone on a Mission Trip yet....but someday....I'm tellin' ya, I'm going to do it. It is so much a part of my heart. My absolute favorite hymn is "Here I Am, Lord". For those of you who don't know the song, it speaks of being open to God to being sent wherever He needs the person to go. That is how I've always led my life. I've taught Sunday school for MANY years and when they ask me what age/grade I want to teach, I ALWAYS say, "wherever you need me."