That was good<\/strong>.<\/p>\nGod has a reason for putting strong-willed children into families.<\/strong> They’re not mistakes. They’re gifts<\/em>, given by a\u00a0God who loves us and desires for us to lean totally on Him. He used our little handful of untamed masculinity to mold and shape us.<\/p>\n\n- I started to pray<\/strong> and lean on God like I never had before.
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/jf3.jpg\" "\\"jf3\\"")
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n- I dug into the Word<\/strong>, for my own strength and survival, and also in search of answers to the \u201cWhat do I do now<\/em>?\u201d questions that came up almost daily \u2013 or maybe hourly \u2013 while raising Joseph.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- I learned to persevere<\/strong>, and continued to discipline him, no matter how futile it seemed, because I loved him and I loved God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- I became at least a little <\/em>less proud<\/strong> when I had to ask again and again for forgiveness after sinning in my own impatience and anger.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- I was motivated to change<\/strong> when the Holy Spirit pointed out my\u00a0own<\/em> stubbornness and self-reliance reflected in Joseph\u2019s attitudes and actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Over the years, God helped me to see glimpses of the blessing in his stubbornness, and to welcome the tremendous strength that stubbornness can be when brought into submission to Him. That determined spirit, when submitted to God, can grow into a strong and committed follower of Christ who who will not be easily swayed.<\/strong><\/p>\nLittle by little I changed, and so did Joseph. God worked in his heart, softening it and irresistibly drawing him to Himself. His energy, curiosity, tenderness, sense of justice, and musical talents joined hands with his determined spirit to passionately worship and serve the Lord he had grown to love.<\/p>\n
Now he’s a man — a strong and godly man who loves God\u2019s Word and knows what he believes. He is committed to Christ, committed to the Church, and committed to his growing family. I am so proud<\/em> to call him my son.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/hj107-1.jpg\" "\\"Hannah")
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Those of you who are blessed<\/em> with strong-willed children — give thanks! \u00a0God<\/em> is the one who created those children. He is one who will bring that will into submission to His. He will use you and your faithfulness, but He <\/em>is the one who changes hearts. \u00a0Pray <\/strong>for your child.\u00a0Pray for wisdom and strength <\/strong>to guide him into the path God has for him. Pray for patience <\/strong>and trust God<\/strong>. He created that child with a special plan in mind, and He will<\/em> bring it to pass.<\/p>\nHappy Birthday, Joseph. I am so glad you were born! <\/strong>I thank God for the privilege of being your mama. I thank Him (and you) for the forgiveness that has been granted over and over to this imperfect mother. I thank Him for working His work of grace in your heart in spite of our many mistakes. And I thank Him for the countless\u00a0ways He has blessed and taught me through your life! May you continue to persevere for His glory! (And I’ll be praying for you and Hannah as you start to raise your own little handful of masculinity soon. \ud83d\ude09 )<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
(Last photo taken by His and Her Photography)<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/jf2-288x300.jpg\" "\\"jf2\\"")
Tomorrow our second-born son celebrates his 26th birthday!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/jf1-240x300.jpg\" "\\"jf1\\"")
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