Now that Blake is talking more clearly and in full sentences these days, it’s always amusing to hear what will come out of his mouth. Most of the time I have no idea where he comes up with the things he says. Having a two year old who talks and thinks so much on his own is probably some of the most fun I’ve had in my life. I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I’m quite the party animal. Some of my favorites are:
- He thinks Iron Man is Stefen. We have no idea why, but every time he sees a picture of Iron Man he says, “It’s daddy!”
- He always tells me to be, “gentle like daddy.” When I’m wiping his face off after eating a messy meal, or washing his hair, which he HATES by the way, at bath time, he says every time, “Be gentle like daddy.” When he started this, I thought it was funny but also a little strange to me. I mean he’s telling me, his mom—who cuddles him all day and night, nurses him, comforts him—to be gentle like daddy—who is big and strong, works all day and then comes home and works more pulling out weeds in the yard, nailing boards with a big hammer. The man who throws him high in the air, and has a pretty impressive “roar” when playing chase.
But whatever, I just go along with it and tell him I will be, “gentle like daddy”. Then, I finally got it while reading this paragraph in a prayer devotional the other day:
“Jesus was the truest gentle-man that ever lived. He set the example for living with women in an understanding way. It wasn’t just that he acted like a gentleman, but He was truly gentle with women. Paul instructs believers that the key to getting along with each other is kindness, humility, and gentleness. These do not come naturally. They are the fruit of the Spirit. Understanding fuels forgiveness. Gentleness and humility pave the way for understanding. What binds them all together is love.”
“12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14
And once again my 27 year old self is over here learning from my two year old. Being gentle doesn’t make you weak or unmanly. It takes a strong man to truly be gentle. To be Christ like. To love and forgive. Those are no easy tasks.
Hey, Stefen, thanks for being all of these things and for making it so evident that our two year old is quickly learning from you. Even if sometimes forgiveness does come at the cost of a massage first. Wait, what?
