Wow! Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It is a difficult, and glorious calling. Nothing melts my heart more than the sweet snuggles of my three wild, wonderful, and crazy boys. And nothing makes my blood simmer more than the whining of said children when we spend an entire day enjoying life together, and then they declare it as “THE WORST DAY EVER” because they haven’t eaten in 45 minutes…they are STARVING…and apparently, very near death.
This happened recently with our youngest child. And by recently, I mean 3 hours ago.
We had the most wonderful day together as a family. All of us were in the water playing. Yes, even me, the mom! My ponytail even got wet!!!! I can’t even…
Upon coming home I started making dinner. I was already preparing for the nightly, “No offense mommy, but I really don’t like this food.” Or, “Stop gagging at the food in front of mommy.” Or, watching my mom with tears pouring out of her eyes from laughter, watching my boys choke down any food really that isn’t a noodle. It is a recurring sequel in our home. Different meal, same outcome every. single. night.
So tonight was no different. I was expecting the complaining as soon as I put the chicken in front of them. But because tonight was an extra special night for me, my 6 year old decided to start writhing around the kitchen floor, at my feet like a daggoned cat, whining because he was starving and couldn’t wait 19 minutes for dinner to come out of the oven.
The whining continued for, well, 19 minutes.
At one point though he was silently laying on the family room floor and so I went over to lay with him. He immediately turned his back to me.
We had the most wonderful day together as a family. All of us were in the water playing. Yes, even me, the mom! My ponytail even got wet!!!! I can’t even…
Upon coming home I started making dinner. I was already preparing for the nightly, “No offense mommy, but I really don’t like this food.” Or, “Stop gagging at the food in front of mommy.” Or, watching my mom with tears pouring out of her eyes from laughter, watching my boys choke down any food really that isn’t a noodle. It is a recurring sequel in our home. Different meal, same outcome every. single. night.
So tonight was no different. I was expecting the complaining as soon as I put the chicken in front of them. But because tonight was an extra special night for me, my 6 year old decided to start writhing around the kitchen floor, at my feet like a daggoned cat, whining because he was starving and couldn’t wait 19 minutes for dinner to come out of the oven.
The whining continued for, well, 19 minutes.
At one point though he was silently laying on the family room floor and so I went over to lay with him. He immediately turned his back to me.
I asked, “Are you purposefully turning your back to me because you’re upset?”
He simply nodded yes.
So I replied with a hug to his back, “It’s ok. You can turn your back on me. I’ll still love you.”
It was a moment where I thought, I am NOT a perfect parent, but I showed the love of the TRUE perfect parent, our Father in heaven. It is exactly what he said to us, ‘You can turn your back on me, but I will still love you.’
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8
And just as I waited for my surly 6 year old to come back to me for love and comfort; God waits for you to turn back to Him and allow Him to love you and comfort you all the days of your life.
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