Green and brown plastic army men and a headless Barbie are staring at me now. Well, sort of. I would like to say that I am writing from a clean, organized desk. However, that is not the case. A lunch box, umbrella cover and pack of gum are just a few of the items I must choose to look over as I type these words on my computer screen. I would not have it any other way.
Being a mother of toddlers is challenging, exhausting and all together exhilarating. I walked into the room today and knew my 22 month old son was into something he should not have been. I could see it on his face. He looked as if he was eating something and I asked him what it was. He was holding something up for me to see. As he placed what was in his little fist into my hand, I realized …it was poo. Yes, poo! He had decided he would clean out his diaper and wipe his hand off on the television stand. Tonight, all I can do is smile. I love him so much.
Yesterday, my little girl was able to have her dreams come true. Someone gave us free tickets to see “Disney on Ice.” It was about an hour drive and we decided to tell her that we were going on a family date, but she had to wait to find out where we were going. On the drive, she began to tell us that today was a special day for her friend, Kaitlin. She was going to see princesses skate on ice. She told us that she wished she could go too. I looked at my husband and could hardly contain myself! When we arrived at the mall adjacent to the arena, there were little princesses everywhere. Ana asked, ‘Why are all the little girls dressed up? Why am I not dressed up?” We sat her down and told her that she was going to get to dress up too. We reached into a bag and pulled out her very own princess dress and matching tiara.
The show was mesmerizing to her. Her big eyes were glued to the show with an occasional eruption in applause and a hand over her mouth when the princesses would finally meet the prince. At one point, she could no longer hide her excitement and put her little arm around my neck and hugged me as if to say, “AAHHHHHHHHHHHH…thank you!”
The truth was that I was as excited as she, if not more. I remember looking at my husband at one point as tears gathered in our eyes. We were so thankful to a God who was mindful of us and our little princess. At a time when it was financially not possible for us to take our baby girl to Disney World, He gave her the desires of her heart and brought the experience to her.
Lately, I have been thinking about our Father’s love for us, His children. It does not matter if we are as pretty as a princess or playing in poo, He loves us unconditionally. In fact, He almost cannot contain Himself when He blesses us with those little surprises. Judah did not have to clean up his own poo and Ana did not have to wear her princess dress in order to attend the ball. So why is it that we big people think we have to clean ourselves before He will accept us or twist and turn in performance to win His approval?
So many times I have made my walk with Jesus feel like a walk on a tight rope or balance beam. If I make one wrong move, it will all be over. He knows we will trip on occasion. He will be there to catch us and clean us up. He is there to dress us and dance with us if we will follow His lead. He is not concerned as much about the steps we are taking as He is about us trusting Him as He holds us close.
Right now, my Ana is waking with a bad dream. As her mother, I want to take it away. She is the apple of my eye. I can hold her, sing over her and speak soothing words to her. As long as she is asleep, she will not even realize I am there. However, when the princess awakens, she will know she is safe and loved.
Daughters of God, mothers of His babies, let Him speak to you tonight. You are the apple of His eye. He loves you in your poo and in your sparkles. And this day, He is soothing you with these words, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Good morning, My princess, it is time to wake up and know you are safe and loved.
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