What is your Strength For?

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through my email, and saw one from our Village leaders.  They send the most random stuff, I'm always curious when I see their names in my inbox.  This email was an assignment for each family to complete a box:
Boxes - If you weren't at the last family village, each family decorated a box.  It is an example of something plain made into something beautiful, just like when the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts and transform us into something beautiful.  Also, it was a chance for each family to spend some time together, working on something, together.  We asked that each family fill their box with something to tell the Village more about who they are as a family.  Different families will be sharing their boxes at each village.  If you were unable to join us this past village, use a box that you already have and decorate it at home.
Filling the box :)  Take the opportunity, as you fill your box, to think about how you would sum up your family.   Maybe ask questions like - what's important to our family?  what's our mission, as a family?  what are the priorities of our family?  How could it be summed up in a phrase or a few sentences?  When you have come up with something then talk it over with your kids or present it to them.  What can you put in the box to tell the village about your family motto/vision?  Also, get your kids involved in filling it with some fun stuff - a favorite game, toy, food or movie.  Whatever they come up with - kids are going to probably be way better at it than we are!  Take this box and use it as a way to spend time with your family :).  Our awesome teachers are sharing their box next village.  We will ask for volunteers for the village after so be thinking!

I stared at the screen, dumbfounded.  A family theme?  Putting stuff in a box to explain who we are?  What?!  I felt, not for the first time, that the Codispotis are waaay more organized and intentional than we are.  How on earth were we going to come up with something?  Because when they ask for volunteers, it doesn't help to look at the carpet.

But just a few hours later, it hit me.  Or hit my child, actually.  Because we actually do have a family theme, although I never thought of it that way before.  What is your strength for?  When we were expecting our first baby, and reading lots of books and getting plenty of advice (wanted or not), Chris came across this phrase as something you could say to instruct your child.  We told our friends, who had a 3 year old son at the time.  The father turned to the boy, and sternly said, "That's not what your strength is for!" then promptly burst out laughing and admitted he just couldn't say that.  But Chris and I thought it was perfect.  And when we gave birth to a little boy, we found plenty of times to use it.  Throwing the fire poker at a window...That's not what your strength is for.  Kicking or hitting in anger and frustration...That's not what your strength is for.  Taking a toy from a smaller child...That's not what your strength is for.  We continued to have boys, and continued to have opportunities to impart this lesson.  Carrying groceries in from the car...That's what your strength is for.  Opening the door for Mommy, whose hands are full of baby...That's what your strength is for.  Pushing your brother around the yard in his little car...That's what your strength is for.

Because our boys are constantly getting messages from all around about what it means to be a man, and how the world defines strength.  And I will cheer them on if they excel at sports or grow terrific muscles, if they decide to spend their lives rescuing people from fires or making sure that their community has justice.  But we will have failed them as parents if they use their strength to take from those who are weaker, if they don't honor their commitments to their families and neighbors, if they walk away from someone who needs their strength to cover her own weakness.

We included in our box some representations of the kind of strength we want our sons to emulate: Batman and Superman figures, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Harry Potter, and Where the Wild Things Are.   And two books that we love to read together in the evenings, The Tiny Bears' Bible and the Mighty Warriors Devotional book.  Because all of the superheroes and legends ultimately lead to the true source of strength: Our God in Heaven, who used His strength to sacrifice His Son for the good of all.

And when we searched the Bible for verses containing the word "strength", we found an exhaustive list.  Some we already knew, like, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."  But some were intriguing, especially, "My life has been an example to many, because You were my strength."  Each day, I try to find an opportunity to praise my sons for their strength, their courage, or their gentle kindness.  I'm proud of the man I chose to be their father, who sets the example for strength through sacrifice.  But most importantly, I look at myself, and try to show them the kind of strength a woman possesses.  After all, at the end of Proverbs 31, which describes the woman of noble character whose children and husband praise her, it says, "She is clothed in strength and dignity."

Now its my turn to give the challenge: what are you using your strength for?