Modesty went up in FLAMES!

It was a normal Tuesday night.  Boys were getting homework done in between neighborhood air soft battles.  Girls were organizing their wardrobe choices for the next few days before dinner.  I was trying to cook supper for all of them- bean and cheese quesadillias, one of their faves.  All was well.... until one beauty came in the kitchen to ask if the track shorts she would be packing into her "Wednesday night for church bag" would be OK to wear to youth group:)

• Victory!  Her spirit of discernment already told her no.  That's why she was asking.
• Bummer!  She wasn't willing to concede to MY no... without a battle.

I turned my back to the stove and launched into the repetitive speech (which is why her spirit had already told her no).  It went a little something like this, minus all the excuses thrown in between:

• Hagertys (our family) do not dress that way for church
• I don't care if everyone else does, we are going to church- not a track meet
• We are not going to be comfortable, we are going to worship/hear from God
• If it's that hot- wear a skirt or dress
• We do not dress in a way that might hinder others from hearing God's Word

At which point, beauty's eyes got really big and she begins pointing to the stove.  I turn around to find dinner going up in flames.  I throw a lid over it and then thinking it's out, remove the lid.  Larger than life flames shoot up to nearly the ceiling while high pitched girl screams pierce my ears.  I throw the lid back over and ask beauty to grab some water.  Flames doused.  Fire out.  Beauty agrees not to wear the shorts in question.  Battle over. 

Parenting isn't easy.  It's not supposed to be.  It's hard work that sometimes takes years before it pays off.  I am thankful to have had some godly women influence my parenting.  I'm thankful that I've already seen benefits from hard parenting work.  Those victories give me courage to know that God will get me through this next stage of parenting.  It IS worth the hard work and pleasing to my Lord.