Sunday, November 9, 2014

Knows it All; Questions it All

It was Halloween evening...a magical time for children.  What is better than playing dress up and being given candy?

Unfortunately our magical evening was plagued by tired, grumpy kids, one kid down with an eye infection, parental miscommunication, freezing cold weather, and a vehicle making strange noises.

We had left our first "magical" stop for the evening - create your own spooky face pancakes at IHOP and were headed to our second...indoor trick or treating.

We stopped at a gas station to identify and correct said strange car noise referenced above.  As we parked, the questions started.

"Why are we here? Why is daddy getting out? Why is that open? What is he getting out of the trunk? Why is daddy going inside? Why are you moving the car?"  It didn't stop.  Kate questioned on and on.  I did my best to answer the questions (or most of them) with as much patience as I could muster.  After all, this 3 and a half year old was concerned that we had been indefinitely thrown off the trick or treating track for the evening.

Having corrected the strange noise problem, we were back on the road only to be informed within seconds that "this is not the way to trick or treating."  We tried to argue, however Kate insisted that we were going the wrong way.  Eventually we just had to give up and tell her to wait and see.

During this small window I marveled at how someone could at the same time so confidently KNOW EVERYTHING, and also feel the need to ask THOUSANDS OF QUESTIONS every day.

And then it hit me, that feeling that I get when I know God is teaching me something and that it isn't just for me.  When it comes to our relationship with God, we are exactly the same as my little three year old conundrum.

We spend our days asking God why?  Why did you let this happen? Why didn't that happen? Why did he get that and I didn't?  Why me? Why not me? When? What is going to happen next?

And then in our next breath, we dare to tell God that we know better than he does.  "No really, we're going the wrong way.  This surely isn't what you had planned for me."

In those moments when Kate is asking my ear off, or trying to tell me I have it perfectly wrong, I just want to beg her to please trust me.  I want to help her understand that she can trust me, that she doesn't need to know everything, she doesn't need to control everything, and that she doesn't already KNOW everything.

I can hear God saying the same thing to you and to me.  Trust me, he says.  It doesn't make sense to you right now, but I've got this.  You don't have to control it, I do.  You think you know better, but you don't.  I can see the big picture, you cannot.

My friends, let go and simply trust God.  Simple words to write and extremely difficult words to put into practice.  Next time you feel yourself starting to worry, or doubt, question, or act like you know better than God, remember little Kate and how silly she sounds insisting she knows the way.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

The other kids will laugh at me

I was driving Kate to her third day of gymnastics class and she says, "I'm not going to do anything today because the other kids will laugh at me."

I was stunned.  Speechless.  Broken hearted.  Why is my 3 year old already so self-conscious and afraid of what other people think?  I don't know if this normal at that age or not, but even if it is, it still breaks my heart.

I have first hand experienced the paralyzing fear of "everyone is watching me and judging me" for far too long.  It is one of the last things that I desire for my kids to spend a lifetime having to out grow.

After I recovered, I launched into a speech that was probably greatly lost on my sweet Kate's 3 year old mind, but it went something like this. "The kids aren't laughing at you.  And even if they are, I want you to go out there and just do your best and not worry about what they think.  I know you are doing your best and all that matters is what God thinks." Etc. Etc. Etc.

I am pretty sure she did participate in gymnastics that day and after her 4th day of gymnastics she proudly told me, "I did everything today!"  I was very excited.  I was certain it had nothing to do with my speech, but nonetheless grateful that my money was being put to better use than Kate sitting on the sidelines at 3 year old gymnastics. :)

It was later that night that I got hit over the head with my own lesson.  I had been in the midst of a task that I was really not excited about doing (even though I knew it needed to be done) MOSTLY BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID WHAT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO THINK ABOUT ME!

As I went to bed that night, I was praying for Kate to be free from being self-conscious and God reminded me of the words I spoke to her.  "Do YOU really care ONLY about what I think?"

I was stunned.  Speechless.  Broken hearted.

I prayed.  God I desire to only care about what you think, to be obedient even when it is unpopular or uncomfortable.  Please help me.  (It went on a little longer than this, but you get the point.)

I cannot give what I do not have.  I don't exactly know how to teach Kate and AJ the self-confidence that they are going to need to not worry about the other kids laughing, but I know that I have to continue to learn it first.  I know that I have to keep praying.  So thankful for grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, and for lessons in the moment!

When it gets hard

*I wrote those post several months ago in the midst of a difficult season.  I never posted it...I think because it was so raw and I felt extremely hypocritical posting something that I had no where near gotten a handle on.  I should have posted it then because I know there are others out there who can relate and need to know they are not alone.  I am posting it now, although we have moved on from some of the difficulties discussed below (hallelujah AJ sleeps all night! and Kate's bedtime battles are exceptionally less bloody ;)) - the lessons are still true and the patience is still growing.


There's been a lesson brewing in my life for some time now and I just haven't quite put my finger on what exactly it is what God wants me to share.  Maybe it is because I can't really seem to make any headway in the issue I am currently facing.

Right now Kate is upstairs crying her head off screaming "I want daddy and mommy" in desperate protest of bedtime.  Our day today was filled with one incident after another of bad behavior, correction, fit, time out, repeat.  A skipped nap on top of an early morning pretty much sealed the deal for all of us.

I can't lay the blame for a bad day all on the shoulders of a very trying 2.5 year old and her 6 month old sister who doesn't sleep all night long.  I find that lately my attitude sucks and in some very ironic ways.

I try to teach Kate to be patient.  The relentless asking for the same thing until I have time to respond wears on me and I tell her to be patient.  But what does the edge in my voice reveal other than my own impatience.

I try to teach Kate not to throw fits when something doesn't go her way, to use her words and control her emotions.  And yet what do I do when I get to the afternoon and I am tired and I have two crying kids and six more hours until my husband gets home...essentially throw a fit.  No, I don't kick and scream and cry (although I confess that in the middle of the night when AJ wakes up I have been known to throw a little fit of kicking and crying), but in my head the negative thought train gets revved up and no matter how hard I try to stop it it gains momentum.  Self-Pity. Anger. Bitterness. Frustration. Take your pick, or sometimes all of the above, they chug along the tracks at downhill speeds and just make my responses to kid behavior escalate said kid behavior.

I apologize for not giving more specifics; I think it would only contribute to the overall negativity to use this as a venting platform.

So what is the lesson?  Of a couple of things I am sure:

1 - I need Jesus.  I am so not perfect.  I am so lost in this world of parenting.  If I want my kids to be able to see me as an example then I need Jesus to mature me first.  Man sometimes that hurts.
2 - Scripture is key.  I have posted little scripture cards of verses related to joy all around my house.  If I can't stop the negative thought train on my own I can try to derail it by repeating words of scripture over and over again.  God's Word does not return void.
3 - When you pray for patience prepare to be given opportunities to be patient.  I know we have all heard that before, but it has rarely been more real to me than right now.  I honestly don't like the person that I turn into by the end of the day and I am in constant prayer asking God to help me and to change me.  You know how that happens, by having more opportunities to make a better choice the next time.

I wish it were easier to be a parent.  I wish it were easier to grow spiritually.  You know the easy button.

But as I tell Kate - it's not. Deal with it.  This isn't a good reason to cry.  Use your words.

Guess it's time to take my own advice, stop feeling sorry for myself, (maybe be okay with some tears every now and then), and trust God because He loves me and He will help me.

Here's to a new day tomorrow.

PS - After about 20 minutes of non stop crying she fell immediately to sleep and the house is now blissfully quiet. About Time!