A Spring of Joy

In our women’s Bible study, we looked at joy this past week and found it difficult to describe to our liking just exactly what the difference between joy and happiness is. One of the girls told me I should ask Asher what he thinks, so I did. Here’s his reply:

“Well… joy is down in your heart. I feel happy when I get things I ask for. Joy is saying thank you even when I don’t like what I get.”

How’s that for insight?! I love to see how his mind works.

So, this morning I was doing my quiet time, and Micah came over and said, “Mommy, why are you doing that?” Asher rolled his eyes and said (in that older-brother-know-it-all tone), “Micah… she’s reading her Bible because it’s full of God and Jesus, and Mommy wants to be full of God.” Micah stood there for a minute, then ran over to the bookshelves and said, “Where’s my Bible, Mommy? Can I be full of God, too?” *sigh* My heart smile for the day.

Another Asher quote to give y’all a smile today… Asher’s 5th birthday is today, and he was sitting eating his breakfast, and all of sudden he gasped and yelled, “Look, Micah, it’s snowing! It’s snowing.” He sat there for a minute, then said, “It’s snowing on my birthday. God must really be smiling for me today.”

Oh, what a boy! What a joy!

Hope y’all have a great day.

While watching an Eagles vs. Redskins game, Asher’s allegiance turned suddenly to the Eagles (to the shock and horror of his father). At one point during the game, Brian and I were talking, and Asher looked up and said, “Be quiet, I’m praying about the Eagles.” Trying not to laugh, we listened as he prayed, “Dear God, please give the Eagles strength to win against the Redskins, and I pray that you would strengthen the Redskins, but not enough to win.” Now, what do we do with that?

After talking with the boys about the Christmas story and how angels came and told the shepherds about Jesus, we had a short conversation about angels.

Asher asked me if angels were real, and I told him they were very real and that they were, in fact, watching over us right now. Micah’s eyes got huge and he started to look all around the living room. Laughing, I told him that we couldn’t see the angels, and he cocked his head, grinned mischievously, and said, “Are they hiding behind the Christmas tree?”

So, I have no idea where this came from, but here’s Asher’s most recent thinking…
Ash: Mom, it’s good to be tough like me.
Me: And why is that?
Ash: In case there’s a war.
Me: Oh, really?
Ash: Yeah. Because then I can go and fight to protect my women at home.

Micah was playing w/ his little people, and he sings ALL the time. This morning I listened while he sang Come Thou Fount w/ them. Here is his version of the song:

Jesus, come my every blessing,
Tune my heart with strings of praise.

How we all need our hearts tuned, huh?

Today the boys and I were working on crafts, and I just sat quietly, trying hard not to laugh… here’s what they were saying.

Micah: Asher, look, I drew a king. I’m the king of the world.
Asher: No you’re not, Micah. God is. He is the real king.
Micah: God is a king?
Asher: God is the biggest. He is the strongest. He is the fastest.
Micah: And God is the slowest.
Asher: (sits for a minute quiet) Mom, if God can do anything, does that mean He can be the slowest too? Micah doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Micah: Be nice to me Asher. Jesus is right here!
Asher: No, Jesus is up in Heaven WITH God.
Micah: Up in the sky, Asher?
Asher: Yes.
Micah: Then how does He live in my heart, Asher?
Asher: Micah, let’s color some more.

I believe Asher has a future in politics. Hope that gives you as much entertainment as it did me. Now you know why I’m sliding the slippery slope into insanity.

The other day the boys were running like crazy around the house, and after numerous attempts to stop them, Brian finally laid down the law. He told them they had to find something else to do. This was the response:

Micah: Asher! Let’s pretend we’re girls!
Brian: Girls? What do girls do?
Micah: (pauses for a minute, then very emphatically) They talk.