{Day 3} Interrupted by Not Being Interrupted

It is late; we went to the Pirate game tonight!  It was freezing, but they won - yay!

Today the Good Lord interrupted me by His grace through my little boy, Brian.  For those who don't know much about me, my husband and I have three children.  Elizabeth is in third grade, Brian is in preschool, and Katherine is one.  We homeschool.

For a long time, trying to figure out what to do with Brian when I needed time to work with Elizabeth was challenging.  This year, in addition to trying to be more proactive with him, I've seen him mature dramatically in his ability to occupy himself when necessary.  Today was a magnificent display.  Most days, I work with Brian on something first thing during our school time, leaving Elizabeth to independent writing or math work.  But this morning I knew I had to work with Elizabeth on a couple of things, so I started with her rather than Brian.

> As an aside, we're all in the same room, it's just that one is getting more attention.  Katherine was napping, in case you were wondering! <

The work with Elizabeth took much longer than expected.  But in that time Brian uncomplainingly did everything I asked him to do or suggested that he do: dot-to-dots, cut and paste, coloring a little with me while Elizabeth wrote something, cleaning up the papers under his desk, folding some clean dish towels.  Then he spent a long while playing with some little Angry Birds toys.  I was flabbergasted at the whole scene and thanked God in my heart for such a blessing: not only the freedom to work with Elizabeth without ending up losing my patience with Brian, but also the relief of knowing he is growing up and out of his (very normal, but sometimes trying) more baby-ish ways.  Such a blessing to find myself interrupted by grace without being interrupted by Brian!  Ironic.

The day was going so well!

Not too much later, however, I was rude to Elizabeth and lost my patience with her about a math lesson that she was having trouble understanding, (terrible, I know).  Absolutely no reason to get frustrated and speak so loudly, but I did.  Reflecting on that and thinking about Brian and his increasing maturity gives me hope for myself, despite the long way I have left to go in the holiness department.  Makes me think of this verse:

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

Does that mean there is hope that one of these days I will be a patient math teacher?  Maybe by the time Katherine is in third grade!

Any grace interruptions in your world today?