Mommy Time

Seth and I had a fight this morning. It's far from rare these days, I'm sorry to say. He got up at 5 (eek!) after staying up way too late, again. So by the time it was 8:30, I knew he was starving and we needed to get moving to make it to church! Nevertheless, each time I came near him with a spoon or a strawberry or anything resembling food, he would slam his mouth shut and wildly shake his head, "No." Grrrr.

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My friend Katie told me about a week ago that one of her children needed some mommy time, resulting in the rearranging of schedules. Hmm. I have noticed, recently, that Seth is also in mommy mode. It's hard when I leave. And when I'm home, I cannot be out of his sight. He watches my every move, even as he plays. If I open the back door, resulting in the familiar "beep beep beep" of the alarm, he goes crazy and the tantrum begins. I protest that I'm just letting Maggie out and puh-lease settle down! Sigh.

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So this morning, as he sat in his chair, steadfastly refusing to eat, I had a thought as the big crocodile tears started to flow. Hold him. Just hold him. So I did. Out of the booster and onto my lap he went where he proceeded to eat like a champ. Crisis averted. Phew!

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As I was hurriedly trying to get dressed and out the door to church, I wondered at how like Seth I am. Yes, I need my mama time, but that's not what I mean. When I'm off or when I'm sad or when I'm needy or when I'm facing trials (resulting in a 39-year old tantrum), what I need, whether I know it or not, is to climb into the lap of my heavenly Father. See, time -- quality time -- with God is really the only thing that can fix what ails me. I can talk to my friends or family or a therapist or drown myself in useless television or piles of books. But until I turn to the One who holds the keys to joy, I'm unlikely to "feel" better. So that's where I'm spending my time. Happily resting in my Father's arms, like a two year old too exhausted to know what he needs. And I'm at peace.

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"He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you." Psalm 91:4