I will never forget the night some 35 years ago when I was hurrying through Josh’s bath after a long day. He was being silly and not co-operating. As I laid him back in the tub to rinse his hair, he said, “Mom, can’t you see God smiling?” Wow – I wasn’t expecting that comment, but his delight in the Lord caused me to slow down, let go of my agenda, and desire to spend more time looking for God’s smile with my son.
The popular and somewhat controversial song, ‘Let It Go’ from the hit movie Frozen
reminds me of the phrase that was popular in Christian circles in the 70’s and 80’s – ‘Let go and let God.’ Sometimes we just need to let go of our our plans for the day and let God bless us as we create memories with our children.
Read the Words of Jesus when the children were brought to him:
Mark 10:13-16 (GW) Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that. When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of the kingdom of God. I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it.” Jesus put his arms around the children and blessed them by placing his hands on them.
Jesus always had time for the children. What do we have to do that even comes close to the responsibilities of the Son of God. What do we have on our minds that could ever be as trying as what Jesus knew He would be facing. Yet Jesus took the time to love on the children and I think to even play with them. He even encourages us to be like the children.
We moms need to let things go in order to be in the moment with our children – they don’t stop growing while we are busy doing other things! We need to take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with them, playing, loving, reading, being silly, going for walks, looking at clouds, running through mud puddles, and finding teaching moments in the midst of it all as God smiles down on us.
I am so thankful for the lesson God taught me through Josh that night during bath time. I hate to think of the moments and memories I would have missed – I can honestly say I have enjoyed every minute being mom to Josh, Jer, Jon, and Jenny Love for almost 37 years which, by the way, seem to have literally gone by in a blink!
I encourage you to intentionally ‘let go’ of the messy house, the dirty dishes, the unfolded laundry, the phone calls, etc., and go play!! And, as Josh said, look for God’s smile!!!!
Here’s an article, a book, a poem, and a movie quote to inspire you to ‘let it go’:
The Day I stopped saying Hurry Up
Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!
Building Memories
By Sandra D. Romans
So much to do – I have no time
To listen now, I say,
And hurry back to the chores
That always fill my day.
No time to listen? A small voice
Seemed to whisper in my ear…
Soon your little ones will be gone
And you’ll wish to hold them near.
I left my broom – the chores undone
And found them under the apple tree.
I held them close and listened while
They shared their love and we built a memory.
from the movie Hook
“Your children love you, they want to play with you. How long do you think that lasts? . . . We have a few special years with our children, when they’re the ones that want us around. After that you’re going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It’s so fast . . . It’s a few years Peter and it’s over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it.”
