Our 9-Year-Old Reuben

Nine years ago, our sweet Reuben was our first child born after moving to Louisville. We were so blessed to welcome our third child into our family a year after our move. 

From the beginning, Reuben has been an easy going, laid back boy. Generally he is very calm and just goes with the flow. He loves quiet and is sensitive, caring and gentle. Already, I see God preparing Reuben to be an amazing husband and father. He loves babies and cares so well for his young siblings. Every night after dinner he asks to hold Esther and he helps out by taking care of Malachi while she's eating. 

Reuben loves to learn. Currently he is reading whatever chapter books he can get his hands on: Notebook of Doom series, Magic Tree House series, The Hobbit. He has been writing and drawing pictures about the books he reads just because he wants to. He also loves non-fiction. Science is his favorite subject currently and loves to study nature. He is loving his mammals study. Math and Latin are also fun for him. 

Drawing and building are two things Reuben excels at that he also enjoys doing. For every section we've studied in Revelation he has drawn a picture to match and many are amazingly accurate to what we read. His Lego and magnet creations are also fantastic. He has such a good eye for detail. I'm excited to see how God uses these talents!

Reuben enjoys movies and the idea of being a hero. He has been working on a story about heroes that he plays with his siblings. He is so creative just like our Creator. He is always imagining and dreaming and putting himself into a story. Right now he talks about being a fire fighter and studies what they do. He has started to exercise to add to his natural strength to be ready for the hard work. Reuben is so strong and God is preparing him for strong work. He loves the big jobs that require lifting, carrying and pushing himself physically. I call him muscles when I need something done and he loves it! He loves to be told he has done something well.

Recently, Reuben has been growing in spiritual disciplines, especially Bible and prayer. I see so much of God's grace on him as he is seeking to understand what it means to be a Christian. He reads his Bible and prays to be able to obey. 

Father, continue to grow Reuben in the Truth of Your Word. Thank You for making him creative like You. Grow Reuben into the man you've created him to be and let him know Your amazing grace deeply. Make him Yours and give him understanding of who You are. Thank You for Reuben's precious life! In Jesus's Name. Amen