Stepping Aside

The kids and I went with one of my sweetest friends and her kids to Silver Dollar City yesterday on the most beautiful day of the summer. I didn't bring my camera, so no pictures. Sometimes cameras come with a burden, and I wanted to go down to just enjoy and keep up with only the kids. The first 20 minutes of our time was filled with a bit of complaining, arguing, and irritability. So, my friend and I sat the kids down on a rock wall and we all prayed for God to rescue the day. And He did. It was smooth sailing from that point on, except for one incident. Alexis, clothed in a bathing suit after playing in the water park area, was sopping wet and we were about to get on a ride that she wouldn't get on last time. I was so excited that she made up her mind to ride this ride. But when we got to the front the man at the gate told her she had to put on her shorts. Alexis' impulsive-caught-off-guard nature kicked in. She didn't want to get her shorts all wet. I started to get a little frustrated with her, even a little out of sorts with her. She was holding up the line, and making a scene. I wanted to swat her and snap her out of it, but that would have only made the situation worse. It was then that my friend gently said "Jenni, it's okay, this is part of who Alexis is and she will grow, but you can't force it on her." I conceded and led her to a bench, where we sat quietly. I was still a little angry over the whole incident. Until Alexis, who was surrounded by herds of people, pointed out a tiny hummingbird having a snack on a hanging flower basket about 8 or 9 yards away. We watched this tiny little hummingbird for 5 or 10 minutes, in awe of how marvelous this little creature was. I got to tell her a little about hummingbirds and how miraculous they are. Amidst all the chaos, God gently reminded me who is in control and how much He loves us. That even in the midst of chaos and frustration, He can make things beautiful. If I had stayed and forced her to get her shorts on, making us all miserable, we would have missed something beautiful, and the teaching moments that would come next.

I don't often know what to do as a mom. In fact, most of the time I feel clueless and ill- equipped. I question myself as a mother all the time, especially when it seems impossible. And then I am reminded by this little hummingbird, who by all accounts should not be able to do what it does, that through Jesus all things really are possible. And when I surrender to God my need to control and fix them, He teaches and loves them through me. It isn't me, it is HIM who equips and works through me. My kids are far from perfect, and so am I--not even close. Which makes me ever more so grateful for His grace that WILL make all things possible and even beautiful.