Respect, Obedience and Inner Struggles - Nathan style

From Nathan's Sunday School teacher, Miss Marsha:


so.. today we were getting ready for Lord's Prayer.  I typically ask, "why do we fold our hands and close our eyes when we pray?"   The "old timers" in the class... Jonah and Amy Caroline.. know the answer... to be respectful.  Today.. I switched it up a bit and asked how we can show respect to God?  Granted.. I didn't add the words "when we pray" but since we were getting ready to  pray, I assumed that part.  Nathan's answer showes he did not assume that!   SO here we are.. getting ready for Lord's prayer... and Nathan's answer to  "how can we show respect to God" was NOT the fold our hands and close our eyes that I was looking for...

It was "Be kind to the cat.  I'm kind to cats but Brandon pulls their fur".

Now take that and lead it into the Lord's Prayer....  : )    I love your kids!! MM 

He's such a great cat because he does put up with it.

My response:

He’s proving to be the one that leaves us speechless every day with his remarks.
He told the teacher today in Children’s Church that he ALWAYS obeys his parents, ALL THE TIME, then stood up amongst the other seated children with his hands on his hips, surveying the crowd back and forth beneath him with a smug ‘aren’t you proud of me’ grin.
 

 

Precious little man of mine.  His internal battles between wanting to be a pleaser and the sinful nature of his heart are so obvious now-a-days.

For instance, he was showing his rear-end the other day in the car and while Daddy was driving I turned around in my seat and gave Nathan the what-for.  After it was all said and done, I sat back down in my seat and after a 15-second silent streak Nathan said, "Mom, um, I have someting to say.  Your hair wooks weally nice today.  No, no, no.  I mean your hair wooks WEALLY, WEALLY, WEALLLLLLY nice today."

He's also started out the day saying, "Mom, I have a gweat idea.  How about I do everyting just the way you tell me to today so you don't get fwustwated wif me and I won be bad?  Will dat make you smile and be happy?  I don want to be bad or mean to my baby bruder.  I wuv him, bery, BERY much!"  And then within minutes he's throwing a full-blown temper tantrum or finding a way to physically torture or aggravate his brother.

FYI: Anyone have any ballet pointe shoes I can have because this guy's keeping me on my toes.