“What do you think, Mom?” Isaiah asks.
He springs from his school desk, stands in front of me and shoves the sleeve of his shirt up high. Then he flexes. The muscles of his thin arm are defined. Chorded. His face twists to a grimace. He’s trying to look strong-guy tough.
“Awesome,” I say. “Let me feel.” I put my fingers on the bicep and press. “Feels good. You’re getting very strong.”
Isaiah grins. He pulls his sleeve down again and takes his seat.
Time to get back to math facts.
But his antic stays on my heart.
Strength shows are common at my house. Samuel and Gabriel are swimmers, and their arms get a solid, regular workout from swim strokes and laps. Isaiah is still small. He doesn’t swim. But his fifth-child nature makes him want to keep up.
My boys are becoming strong.
I think about this for a bit. It’s a dear thing, to see their bodies gain strength. But watching their spiritual growth is more precious still. God’s Word tells us as that when Jesus was a young boy, he grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.
I pray this kind of growth for my boys.
Lord, let my sons grow physically into strong men. Let them grow in wisdom. Let them be strong in loving and understanding and applying Your Word. Let them grow to be powerful in prayer. Let them grow in Your favor and grow to have strong, nurturing relationships with others, too.
Isaiah is midway through his story problem when Gabriel bolts from his chair and stands where his brother stood moments ago.
“Hey, Mom, check this out. I think my muscles grew during the night.”
His sleeve is shoved up. He flexes until a bump on his bicep appears.
And my heart is full.
I love this blessing of watching boys grow. Physically. Intellectually. Socially.
And especially spiritually.
Little boys flexing muscles for the glory of Lord…
It is truly a beautiful thing.
