Red Plastic Cups

I guess I'm so far removed from the days of seeing fraternity houses that the thought never crossed my mind that red plastic cups on my front lawn might make this look like a fraternity house.  My case manager who visited this week, who is in her early 20's, happened to mention the similarities.  Stanfield party house.  Actually I was thinking more luminaries of red cups lining my sidewalk, but actually it was probably more like tea party.  On the other hand, I wasn't home, Buddy was in charge when the red cups appeared so who knows what the actual scenario was.
My morning devotion this week read about giving gifts to Jesus.  My heart went to the foster children in my home and how I set out into this venture to do just that.  Give the gift of loving these children as a gift to Jesus.  It is in this week that I have struggled with this gift.  N has amped up his "power struggles" and I too easily butt heads with him.  He is testing my patience at every turn.  Its not that I don't recognize the signs or know what to do.  I'm a seasoned veteran at strong willed children.  I think that the concern lies in that this gift I'm suppose to be giving to Jesus isn't that easy, especially this week.  I know that my patience are low, that I am struggling for the positives.  I find little comfort in the counselor who politely grins as N refuses to put on his coat when we are leaving her office and when I ask him to stay behind the red line on the sidewalk so he doesn't get run over, he steps on top of the red line.  There are always hard days as parents even with the hatched kids, days when I really don't like my kids. I know this intellectually, I still must summon up strength to continue to give this gift to Jesus.  Prayers for strength, endurance, and of course, patience.