Edify

This momma’s little one was so upset.

Someone was not getting what was desperately desired.

I could hear her choosing not to console, reprimand, nor discipline this erupted behavior.  This was not the time she took for that.  What I heard was the time she took to edify.

Instructing is one thing, and such an important thing, but to overhear her spiritually-inform was such a beautiful thing.

It’s a God thing.

God gives us instructions.  And, there was a time He had to remind His people that they had experiences that their children had not had.  Their children hadn’t experienced His greatness, His strong hand, nor His powerful arm.  Their children hadn’t seen how the Lord cared for them.   The children hadn’t seen what He did.

But they had!

“So be careful,”  God says.  You’ll have to teach these things to your children.   You’ll have to talk about them when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

And, yet not specifically stated, I’m pretty sure…when they’re whining.

It was a valuable moment to have heard her verbally process this ego-centric emotion that many a 5-year-olds can have.  In the child’s intensity, she began to explain God’s goodness, God’s provision,  God’s faithfulness.

“Hasn’t God done this for you?”   She went on to explain what He’s done.

“Hasn’t God provided you with this?”   She gave examples of what He’s provided.

“So, can’t we trust that He will meet all our needs?” she confirmed.

Not always, but this time the whining stopped.

There I sat with my own internal whining.

She had me thinking of what God HAS done.

She had me thinking what God HAS provided.

“He is your God, the one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done mighty miracles that you yourself have seen.”

Tell your children.

Mine told me.

Deuteronomy 11

Remember

I heard this today.

“God calls us to remember.”

It’s true isn’t it?

“He causes us to remember His wonderful works.”

I love the verb.  He causes.

My daughter wears a necklace for this purpose.  And, not because she might forget.  She’ll never forget.  She wears this memory to hold dear and preserve what was dearly and desperately desired.

A permanent reminder, so to speak.

There was a tattoo on the arm of another.   

I know of a lily that was planted because it blooms every summer.

A timely photo was framed.

Over and over we’re told to remember.

Remember you were “chosen long ago”.  Remember it’s “by His dust you were made“.  You were “formed in utter seclusion woven together in the dark of the womb”.

They remember.

Nothing is certain with life.  It can be short.

It has been explained to us that a generation died and another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things that He had done.  So, we are  called to remember.  We will not hide these truths from our children.  We will tell the next generation.

We will wear necklaces and tattoos.   We will plant.  We will frame.

Children are a gift from Him.

The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.

We’ve all been them.

Little children.

Psalm 111

Psalm 139

Judges 2

Ecclesiastes 7

Psalm 89

Last Day of School

Three little ones had their last day of pre-school before the summer.

Mommas’  hearts were achy.

It was a sentimental mile-marker.

And, so it begins, doesn’t it? Swirling thoughts of how one ending becomes a beginning to another.  All kinds of decisions are already being considered for what’s next.  Some are pivotal!  They determine the most likely trajectory for what follows after.  One decision can feel liberating while another can increase the weight already placed on a set of shoulders.

Let me tell you who’s not worried what tomorrow will bring.

These three little ones.

To be honest, they’re not even thinking about tomorrow.  They know tomorrow will come and still there is no worry for today.

There’s this confidence.  There’s this trust. It’s all wrapped up in the one they love.

Oh, to have faith like the little ones.

We’re not to worry what tomorrow will bring either.  It won’t add a single moment to our life.  It is the Lord who lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads.  He already knows our needs.  He has wings to shelter.  He has feathers to cover.  It is these faithful promises that are our armor and protection.

It’s a confidence.

It’s a trust.

You know what three little ones are thinking about today?

Ice cream.

“If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.”

He wraps them up in love.

Psalm 91:4

Luke 12:25

Matthew 6:27; 7:11

Call Your Mom

Call your mom.

It’s likely she’s home.

It’s an ordinary day.

But, those are the best days.  Not the fabricated holidays.

It doesn’t have to be long.  There doesn’t have to be a reason.

She’s been thinking of you.

She knows the pressure you’re under.  The busyness of your season. She’s likely quit calling because she doesn’t want to interrupt your flow, your work, your children, your husband, your wife, your life.  She’s not mad about it.  She loves it.  She had it, too.  She can’t believe those days of her own are already passed down to your days.  Her heart is full with how you seemingly do it better than she did.  Than she could.  She thinks of her own mishaps and missteps but wouldn’t change a one of them because that might in fact have changed you.

Call your mom.

She’s likely out and about.

She loves the free reign but sentimentally longs for just one moment of the season you’re in.  Just a moment, though.  She couldn’t imagine doing it again.  Her energy and stamina wonders how she ever did.  But, she’ll take one more lap to be sat on.  One more bed to be tucked in.  One more night to be wakened. One more hand to be held.  One more scrape to be bandaged.  One more story to be told.

Call your mom.

She may not answer.  But, no regrets.  She knew you would when you could.  She kept no tabs.  She only measured her full heart.  And oh, how she loved you.  Always did.  Nothing could have ever changed that, but her time ran out, too.

It’s likely she’s home.

Don’t cry.

She was incredibly humbled.

She was beyond blessed.

She was so proud to be the mother of you.

Proverbs 31