Jesus took our sp*nks

Kari Patterson > My name is Mommy > Jesus took our sp*nks
My name is Mommy2 Comments2

I came around the corner, and she was punching him. Repeatedly. I actually smiled to myself, seeing Dutch cower in the corner of the inflatable raft while his little sister pummeled him. *sigh* I set down my water-bottle and book and said calmly, “Ok kids, hop out of the pool.” They reluctantly waded over to the edge and stood beside me, sullen.

“Follow me.”

We found a spot on the porch, and I asked for the story. Heidi tearfully relayed the atrocious injustice of the situation: Dutch not wanting to use the rafts oars. At Dutch’s turn he conveyed the deep pain he’d experienced when Heidi has indadvertedly hit his ankle with the oar. Clearly, the situation was grave. (Smile.) I took a deep breath, told them I loved them and explained that since neither of them had chosen to love each other, and both had chosen selfishness, they would both have discipline.

Dutch nodded bravely, silent, while Heidi quietly cried. We went inside the kitchen, surprisingly dark after being in the mid-day sun. I walked to the counter and slid out the wooden spoon, but then Dutch spoke up:

“Wait. Mommy, can I have both sp*nks so that Heidi can have none?”

I turned around. He was earnest. Heidi stopped crying and stared at him.

The beauty of the gospel shining bright out of darkness.

I smiled.

“Come here.”

We sat down on the kitchen floor, them on either side of me.

“Heidi, do you understand that Dutch is willing to take both sp*nks so that you don’t have to have any?”

She nodded, solemn.

“Are you willing to receive that free gift he is offering you, and be grateful for him taking the punishment you deserve?”

She nodded, looking up at him with tearful eyes. “Thank you, Dutch.”

“You guys know that’s exactly what Jesus has done for us, right? Jesus took our sp*nks. He took the sp*nks Heidi deserves, the sp*nks Dutch deserves, and even all the sp*nks Mommy deserves, and that’s A LOT.”
They broke into giggles, nodding knowingly. Tears welled up in my eyes now, so grateful for this gospel that pierces into our ordinary days with stunning beauty that takes our breath away.
“So you know what, kids? Right now, this time, no one’s getting sp*nks. We’re going to get on our knees and thank Jesus for taking all the sp*nks we deserve, and we’re going to thank Him and ask Him to help us love each other the way He has loved us.”
Their sweet little voices trailed through the kitchen,
“Jesus, thank you for taking our sp*nks. Help us to love each other the way you loved us.”
And we all three ran off, free, back into the sun. 
{Praying to always remember these sweet parenting moments, in the midst of all those rough ones. 🙂 May we get glorious glimpses of the gospel in our everyday life. Thanks for reading.}

2 thoughts on “Jesus took our sp*nks”

  2. That was such a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. It’s nice to see that parenting with grace does not mean never punishing. Understanding the Gospel requires understanding first that all sin leads to punishment.

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