Once upon a time, my kids looked forward to brushing their teeth before bed. They even had a catchy Elmo song to go with it. Once upon a time, Micah had a worship time with us before going upstairs for the night. Once upon a time, my kids liked listening to Bible stories before going to sleep. But that was once upon a time before I had the stroke. 
After the stroke, everything got turned terribly inside-out and upside-down. All the good habits we had tried to establish were gone. In all the confusion, changing schedules and faces, altered routines or no routines at all, all established patterns were thrown out the window. For the last almost three months, we have had to abandon all healthy habits for mere day-to-day survival. Chaos has become the New Normal; chaos, that is, and the raging temper tantrums of our little King and Queen when they don't get their way!
After the stroke, everything got turned terribly inside-out and upside-down. All the good habits we had tried to establish were gone. In all the confusion, changing schedules and faces, altered routines or no routines at all, all established patterns were thrown out the window. For the last almost three months, we have had to abandon all healthy habits for mere day-to-day survival. Chaos has become the New Normal; chaos, that is, and the raging temper tantrums of our little King and Queen when they don't get their way!
Sometimes, quite frankly, it's easier just to roll over and play dead. I can barely walk with the help of a big clumsy walker and my wife is always in a state of total exhaustion. Yet, for the sake of our children's future and their well-being, we have no choice but to fight and fight with everything we've got. Fortunately, we are not alone.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7. By nature, I have never been an extraordinarily disciplined person. Neither has my wife. So now, we find ourselves in a situation where against all odds, we have to forge out some semblance of regimen and ritual. It is beyond difficult, but what is the alternative? Bad habits. Defeated lives. Wasted talent. Kids that never grow up and achieve their God-given potential.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7. By nature, I have never been an extraordinarily disciplined person. Neither has my wife. So now, we find ourselves in a situation where against all odds, we have to forge out some semblance of regimen and ritual. It is beyond difficult, but what is the alternative? Bad habits. Defeated lives. Wasted talent. Kids that never grow up and achieve their God-given potential.
We have no choice. Step by frustrating step, we have to forge out patterns that will lead to health, growth, and harmony. In spite of legs that wobble and a left hand that simply won't do what I tell it to, we have to overcome. So tonight, we, with all the strength and perseverance and creativity that the Holy Spirit provides, will try to carve out a reasonable bedtime routine. Please pray for us. We need all the breaks we can catch with our two very strong-willed children. (I have had to hold a raging Jojo against my chest for almost an hour until she finally calms down).
Well, it's time to go and coax my kids into their new pajamas.
Tim