Pecking Order: the basic pattern of social organization within a flock of poultry in which each bird pecks another lower in the scale without fear of retaliation and submits to pecking by one of higher rank; broadly : a dominance hierarchy in a group of social animals.
Let me quote from my last blog post: "Everyone is slowly beginning to understand each other and the tension is progressively easing." Well, maybe on the day that I wrote this, that was the case. Not so much this last week. Not complaining in the least, mind you...just tellin' ya like it is.
My little chicks are determining the social hierarchy of our household. A close friend with 5 boys has always told me about this "pecking order" phenomenon with boys, but I didn't really understand until now how the mix of testosterone and good old fashioned sibling rivalry can easily have a Mama in a dead sleep by 8:00 PM every night. Thankfully, the understanding is clear that Mom and Dad are on top. However, everyone else determining where they stand may become the cause of my eventual institutionalization. I have 4 children who are all close to the same size and within 3 years of age (yes, I know I chose it.) None of them are willing to concede any position in the hierarchy other than the top. From time to time even the older 2 have to take a turn vying for their position.
It's absolutely exhausting!
Feel free to judge. The Dr. putting stitches in my oldest son's chin did as he looked in detest at the culprit who stabbed him with the pencil causing said injury. To say the least, it's been a rough week. Trying to make peace and explaining everyone's side of every situation (over and over) makes me weary. The constant analyzing, reading, thinking, praying, learning, growing, and making mistakes takes it's toll. And it's only just begun. I am confident that within a year things will be somewhat of a new normal...at least that's what "they" say. The boys will eventually have normal arguments that don't involve trips to the doctor's office.
Not every day is like this. Today was a good day. The boys made kites together, played in the snow together, Cameron helped Sam with school (and he let him,) and sweet Alto even made Caleb's bed for him today.
We are immensely blessed!
Alto's first birthday at home...with all 5 of his ever loving siblings!
This phenomenon of determining pecking order can be seen not only in families, but in work places, the church, everywhere. Where there are people, the sin of selfish ambition will follow. If you are currently vying for your position in some type of social order, first of all...be grateful that our Father never gets weary or tired (Is.40:28) like I am; and second, let me encourage you to take a lesson from Jesus, who in Philippians 2:3-11, gave us an example by voluntarily bringing Himself down to the very bottom of the pecking order (vs.7) when He was, by nature, at the absolute very top (vs.6).
Hey, I think I just found our new memory verses!!!
