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The Little Men

December 15, 2010

A father has no greater joy than to have his son look up at him with a smile and say, “Da-da.” Every day when Justin gets home from work, our son, Parker, who will soon be one year old, is at the door waiting for him. He is so thrilled with Daddy’s arrival that every part of his body is shaking with excitement. Parker claps his tiny hands and tries to jump up and down—but usually lands on his rear. He thinks Daddy is the best thing in the world. Parker is already well on his way to being a little man. He loves being outside working with Daddy, eating dirt, and testing anything he can get his hands on.

This past Sunday afternoon we went to cut firewood up in the woods. My girls wanted to set up a house right there in the middle of the woods. They had their blankets, food, sticks, flowers, and baby dolls. They were happy as can be playing house. Now, Parker, who loves getting in their way most of the time, wanted nothing to do with them. Parker saw his Daddy with a saw and his Big Papa carrying firewood and all he wanted was to be under their feet. I have to say, I was not much help. I had to spend my time keeping my little man out of harm's way. I could see he was studying us as we picked up wood and stacked it in the truck. He wanted a piece of the action. He chose the biggest log, put his little arms around it, and started grunting in his attempt to pick it up. Just like a man, he went for the biggest log he could find. My girls would have gone for the smallest, just as I would have, to conserve my strength and my back till the job is done. Later, as Justin split the logs I stacked, Parker again had to be a part, so I started handing him pieces of bark. He thought it was great helping Daddy. At night, while Daddy is bringing wood into the house, Parker is always there holding the door open for him. He claps his hands in glee, knowing he is helping Daddy.

Gracie is my helper. From the time she was big enough to sit up she was with me working. Yes, it did slow me down, but now she is a great help. It was easy knowing what to teach my girls. I want them to be ladies as well as hard-working moms someday. So I just had them work with me. But with Parker, Daddy is not always around; Daddy works. When he is home Parker is his running buddy, but, as a mother, I am still with him at this early age. If I want Parker to be a little man, then I need to start right now training him in the unique art of manly activity, not wait till he is two or three. If I postpone his schooling he could become a whiny, lazy four-year-old, so that when I say, “Go outside with daddy; be a man,” he would rather hang around and do girly things. Perish the thought! What can I do right now to encourage him to be the man I know he will someday love to be?

When my girls were tiny tots I had them sweeping with small brooms and sitting in the sink beside me, splashing away as if they were helping me work. They were being trained to work and feeling useful to the family. Yes, there are boy type toys for Parker to play with and bugs to chase, which are all good boy things, but I want to start now training him how to be a hard-working man. Just like I trained my girls to be hard-working ladies, I want to offer him activities that I know he would naturally prefer. So I came up with some ideas that I, as a mom, can start right now.

We have lots of walnuts all over the ground outside needing to be picked up; it would be so easy to tell Gracie and Laila to go out and pick them up. Instead, out we go with Parker. I talk to him about how glad Daddy will be as I help him fill his bucket to the top. Then, when Daddy gets home, we make a show of giving him the bucket of walnuts. The girls help in discussing the full bucket and how hard-working Parker is. The refrain is heard over and over coming from every member of the family, “Parker is such a big boy!” Then the next day we gather a box full of sticks to burn in the fire. As we work I tell him, “We are helping Daddy today, Parker; you are such a big boy.” The list goes on; there are all kinds of things we as moms can do to raise a man. We just have to be willing to stop cleaning house long enough and be willing to get a little dirty doing “man” things with our little guys.

As a side note, I have come to appreciate the old proverb, “The difference between men and boys is the size of their toys.” Our little boys spend their time playing with toy trucks and tractors, so it just makes sense that they keep playing with them when they grow up.  Meanwhile, we girls play with baby dolls and make a house, and then we grow up and put our childhood play to use.

 

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58 comments on “The Little Men”

  1. I saw this in the UK a few years ago and was very pleased to find it here. I have always wondered what happened to the little girl? Is there an update on this family? What a wonderful witness these people are. Thank you for all your ministry. Karin Kerr

  2. I saw this in the UK a few years ago and was very pleased to find it here. I have always wondered what happened to the little girl? Is there an update on this family? What a wonderful witness these people are. Thank you for all your ministry. Karin Kerr

  3. Excellent!!! We are Mennonites, and are going through the same thing....We apreciated that they had no anger, animosity, nor unforgiveness toward those who are blind and cannot see beyond their traditions, It spoke to our hearts...
    thanks!

  4. Excellent!!! We are Mennonites, and are going through the same thing....We apreciated that they had no anger, animosity, nor unforgiveness toward those who are blind and cannot see beyond their traditions, It spoke to our hearts...
    thanks!

  5. God bless these two families that were brave enough to fight for their faith, for the Truth.

    Bible tells us that there's freedom where there's the Holy Spirit, and sadly these amish people have forgotten this, God have mercy, because they are being an obstacle, and many amish could get tired of this and get away from God (of course He's not guilty of this). It must have been VERY difficult for these families to stand for their believes because they were going against their beloved ones.
    Sorry for the mistakes, my native language is not English.

  6. God bless these two families that were brave enough to fight for their faith, for the Truth.

    Bible tells us that there's freedom where there's the Holy Spirit, and sadly these amish people have forgotten this, God have mercy, because they are being an obstacle, and many amish could get tired of this and get away from God (of course He's not guilty of this). It must have been VERY difficult for these families to stand for their believes because they were going against their beloved ones.
    Sorry for the mistakes, my native language is not English.

  7. wow...that's really insightful and helpful. My husband and I have four older daughters ranging from ages 7 to 3 and one son who just turned one. My husband works outside the home and I do not want to raise a son who wants to do a woman's work. Thanks for the tips. ~Jenna

  8. wow...that's really insightful and helpful. My husband and I have four older daughters ranging from ages 7 to 3 and one son who just turned one. My husband works outside the home and I do not want to raise a son who wants to do a woman's work. Thanks for the tips. ~Jenna

  9. May the LORD bless both the efforts of and the families of all born again believers in the Amish and Mennonite communities that are reaching out to share the truth of the Gospel message within their families and communities - they are modern day Martin Luthers - their life on this earth may be challenging but their eternal reward in Heaven will be great !

  10. May the LORD bless both the efforts of and the families of all born again believers in the Amish and Mennonite communities that are reaching out to share the truth of the Gospel message within their families and communities - they are modern day Martin Luthers - their life on this earth may be challenging but their eternal reward in Heaven will be great !

  11. This was a great blessing from our family!

    I have email Ephraim and he has told me that Marie has finished her treatment and all is well 🙂

    Thanks again for posting this! - Josh

  12. This was a great blessing from our family!

    I have email Ephraim and he has told me that Marie has finished her treatment and all is well 🙂

    Thanks again for posting this! - Josh

  13. This is one of the best documentaries of the Amish I have ever seen. Being married to a person who was Amish when he was young, he has experienced some of the same problems this Amish family has. Salvation only comes through the blood of Jesus Christ, and His grace is sufficient for us. Thank you for such a wonderful story of true christian faith in Jesus Christ.

  14. This is one of the best documentaries of the Amish I have ever seen. Being married to a person who was Amish when he was young, he has experienced some of the same problems this Amish family has. Salvation only comes through the blood of Jesus Christ, and His grace is sufficient for us. Thank you for such a wonderful story of true christian faith in Jesus Christ.

  15. Do you believe/teach the eternal security doctine..onced saved always saved...and if your faith can become shipwrecked..(as the Apostle Paul teaches),isn't that an argument against eternal security? If one has the proper fear of Jehovah, then might not eternal security be just a man made doctrine inorder for sin and righteousness to become the perfect bedmates so to speak?

  16. Do you believe/teach the eternal security doctine..onced saved always saved...and if your faith can become shipwrecked..(as the Apostle Paul teaches),isn't that an argument against eternal security? If one has the proper fear of Jehovah, then might not eternal security be just a man made doctrine inorder for sin and righteousness to become the perfect bedmates so to speak?

  17. This was a very heart warming look inside their lives. I love seeing the joy and excitement of knowing Jesus and sharing his gospel that Ephraim has. Are there any updates about their daughter or how they are doing today? Thank you for sharing this with us.

  18. This was a very heart warming look inside their lives. I love seeing the joy and excitement of knowing Jesus and sharing his gospel that Ephraim has. Are there any updates about their daughter or how they are doing today? Thank you for sharing this with us.

  19. Yes teach your boys the manly things.... but teach them how to sweep, how to sew, to clean up after themselves and that "women's work" is not beneath them. Their wives will thank you-- my daughters in law did. 🙂
    My son loves to knit and do counted cross stitch. And fix the roof, and set tile. And he's definitely a MAN.

  20. Yes teach your boys the manly things.... but teach them how to sweep, how to sew, to clean up after themselves and that "women's work" is not beneath them. Their wives will thank you-- my daughters in law did. 🙂
    My son loves to knit and do counted cross stitch. And fix the roof, and set tile. And he's definitely a MAN.

  21. Is there a way we could start a fund-raiser for Marie? Or for the parents who unselfishly gave all their money to someone else, now need their brothers' help?

  22. Is there a way we could start a fund-raiser for Marie? Or for the parents who unselfishly gave all their money to someone else, now need their brothers' help?

  23. thank you linda! my husband is very helpful around the house and would never dare say that doing dishes or vaccuming us woman's work. his mother taught him that there is no shame in doing housework that needs to be done. she also taught him that to expect a wife to do everything around the house is asking for an unhappy wife and a strained marriage. As the Lord would have it, my husband listened to his mother and is a great help to me and jumps to my aide whenever i need a hand, never complaining or acting like he has more "manly" things to do.

  24. thank you linda! my husband is very helpful around the house and would never dare say that doing dishes or vaccuming us woman's work. his mother taught him that there is no shame in doing housework that needs to be done. she also taught him that to expect a wife to do everything around the house is asking for an unhappy wife and a strained marriage. As the Lord would have it, my husband listened to his mother and is a great help to me and jumps to my aide whenever i need a hand, never complaining or acting like he has more "manly" things to do.

  25. Praise God for anyone that will stand for Jesus! Keep on seeking for more of the Truth, which is the Lord Jesus, and don't join any system of religion. Bind yourself to the Truth and That alone.

  26. Praise God for anyone that will stand for Jesus! Keep on seeking for more of the Truth, which is the Lord Jesus, and don't join any system of religion. Bind yourself to the Truth and That alone.

  27. I would like to know how you consider yourself to hold to Orthodox Christianity if you believe Pelagianism. Just by holding to this view, you must believe that it is possible to be born and live a perfect life apart from Christ. Therefore, it would not be necessary to be saved. This is a heretical doctrine. How do you reconcile these facts?

  28. I would like to know how you consider yourself to hold to Orthodox Christianity if you believe Pelagianism. Just by holding to this view, you must believe that it is possible to be born and live a perfect life apart from Christ. Therefore, it would not be necessary to be saved. This is a heretical doctrine. How do you reconcile these facts?

  29. I think that these people should come together and start their own churches. I feel that alot of christians are being led to live a simple life style. i would attend a christian church who live a simple lifestyle and culture, ive been praying for one in our area. stay by the Lord for he is the truth and the way God bless you all

  30. I think that these people should come together and start their own churches. I feel that alot of christians are being led to live a simple life style. i would attend a christian church who live a simple lifestyle and culture, ive been praying for one in our area. stay by the Lord for he is the truth and the way God bless you all

  31. I found nogreaterjoy through a book a friend gave me. I am old order amish and I just want to make a few things clear to those who know little about the amish. Not all amish churches are the same. I have lived here in Chouteau, OK. all my life. For as long as I can remember, the ministers here have encouraged us to get together and read the bible as we wish, in German OR English. We do not see it as proud to spread the gospel, as long as we give all glory to God the Father. Our bishops and ministers here are constantly reminding us that we must follow the Bible as it is writen, and that just 'being amish' will not save us. It is through the blood of the Lamb that we are able to get to Heaven. I had tears so often through this video, that a few times, I had to stop it to regain my posture.
    This is an excellent documentary, much better than anything I have ever seen before. Yes, I frequent this computer quite a bit, as do my other amish coworkers here at this store.
    We are not likely to ever be shunned because of this, as long as we do not view pornography, etc.
    I suppose to this Lancaster amish community, we wouldn't be OLD ORDER AMISH, but perhaps closer to mennonite. We only shun here if one of our members has gone against a belief supported by the Bible. It is the guidelines set by Christ that we must follow, NOT the ones set by men.
    It is sad, to say the least, when 'traditions' are taken this far. My heart goes out to all the amish who are going through the same things as this family.
    I guess my purpose in writing this is that, not all amish communities are alike. Some are trying to get their people to follow the Light and are not setting rules that aren't supported by the Word.
    God bless you all!

    We have bikes here too 🙂

  32. I found nogreaterjoy through a book a friend gave me. I am old order amish and I just want to make a few things clear to those who know little about the amish. Not all amish churches are the same. I have lived here in Chouteau, OK. all my life. For as long as I can remember, the ministers here have encouraged us to get together and read the bible as we wish, in German OR English. We do not see it as proud to spread the gospel, as long as we give all glory to God the Father. Our bishops and ministers here are constantly reminding us that we must follow the Bible as it is writen, and that just 'being amish' will not save us. It is through the blood of the Lamb that we are able to get to Heaven. I had tears so often through this video, that a few times, I had to stop it to regain my posture.
    This is an excellent documentary, much better than anything I have ever seen before. Yes, I frequent this computer quite a bit, as do my other amish coworkers here at this store.
    We are not likely to ever be shunned because of this, as long as we do not view pornography, etc.
    I suppose to this Lancaster amish community, we wouldn't be OLD ORDER AMISH, but perhaps closer to mennonite. We only shun here if one of our members has gone against a belief supported by the Bible. It is the guidelines set by Christ that we must follow, NOT the ones set by men.
    It is sad, to say the least, when 'traditions' are taken this far. My heart goes out to all the amish who are going through the same things as this family.
    I guess my purpose in writing this is that, not all amish communities are alike. Some are trying to get their people to follow the Light and are not setting rules that aren't supported by the Word.
    God bless you all!

    We have bikes here too 🙂