All over herself. Stuck to her hands, shirt, jeans and all over the floor.
When she realized I was standing there she quickly looked up, guilt written all over her face and the words “I sorry mommy” came quickly and easily.
“You made a mess” I said.
“Why?”she asked
“I don’t know why” I said (we currently reside in the land of “why” with our two year old. I spend most of my day trying to explain “why”…. can anyone else relate?!)
🙂
I brushed all the glitter I could off her clothes and then off she went skipping to the sink.
“You wash my hands Mommy?” she asked, with her arms up ready for me to do just that.
“Yes” I smiled.
As I lifted her up to the sink and washed the blue and gold glitter off her chubby little fingers I replayed the whole scene in my head and my heart tightened.
This was a mommy moment I wanted to freeze forever.
It was a moment in which I didn’t get upset at my two year old for making a mess (which I am ashamed to admit is quite often my first reaction.)
It was a moment in which my daughter clearly knew she was doing something wrong and quickly ran into my arms for forgiveness.
It was a moment in which she relied on me. (To clean not only herself, but also her mess)
It was a moment in which I held her little body and washed her sweet two year old hands clean. Hands that will be messy again. Hands that will grow and mature and change. These chubby little fingers won’t be this way for long…
And as I washed her hands I realized something else.
Oh, how I long to be like my two year old when I make a mess.
What would happen if when I know I’m making a mess of things, I quickly confessed and ran to the One that can make me clean again.
To say I’m sorry even when I don’t even know why I made the mess in the first place.
To happily allow my Father to take my hands and pour Living water over them and cleans them of any trace of the mess I’ve made.
To go bouncing off happily knowing that He takes care of me. That He forgives me easily.
What an amazing thought to think that his Daddy heart wants to freeze these moment of me too. The moments when I mess up.
The times when I run to him knowing I’ve messed up. The times where I lift my hand and simply ask “Will you wash me Father?”
To think that he wants to keep even these moments locked in His mighty heart is overwhelming.
But, I realized today that it is in these moments, when I run into His arms after I’ve made a mess that He can truly pour out his grace. That He can truly be my Father. The Father He wants to be!
Just as I love my two year old (messes and all) like only a Mommy could. He loves me (messes and all) like only a Daddy could.
But the Lord still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them. Isaiah 30: 18
I love Jesus, my guy Chris + our four. We seek joy. Homeschool. Adventure together. Mess up and start again.
Great post! Thanks Sara for sharing!!
my first thought…what a mess.
but, God took that moment of a mess and shared His love, and His character with you, and you shared it with us. Praise God that He's continually teaching and reminding us of who He is.
thank you for sharing.
I think it is amazing how much a child can teach us about our walk with God. Great post.
oh i would freak out. glitter is so hard to clean up. but then again, it will be there in the crevices and corners reminding you of our good Father, and His graciousness, and love in our lives.
what a great post.
i'm in a mess at this moment. i usually create my own messes, but this mess is created by others (mother and sister). i need God to rescue me… again.
So true Sara, so true! I frequently have to count to three before reacting to my sons' messes 🙂
Wonderful post! I love the way you reflected on that moment, both from a parenting standpoint and from the perspective of a child of God!
ah yes, the land of "whys". We are starting to live in that place too – or at least I thought we were, until I babysat a 3 year old this morning and am pretty sure I've never heard "why" so many times in a row in my life!
Then again, I'm pretty sure when I talk to God, "why" is a word that crops up again and again too.
Bless your Mommy heart for handling your little one with such care, love and perspective 🙂
Great post! Thanks Sara for sharing!!
Wonderful post! I love the way you reflected on that moment, both from a parenting standpoint and from the perspective of a child of God!
ah yes, the land of "whys". We are starting to live in that place too – or at least I thought we were, until I babysat a 3 year old this morning and am pretty sure I've never heard "why" so many times in a row in my life!
Then again, I'm pretty sure when I talk to God, "why" is a word that crops up again and again too.
Bless your Mommy heart for handling your little one with such care, love and perspective 🙂