REACH – Five Minute Friday

There are times when I just want to bail.  Not bail forever, just to get a sanity break from all my crazies (I mean, dear children). When I had toddlers, (still have 1 out of 3), other Mamas with grown children would say they would go back to the toddler-chaos in exchange for the drama that comes with older children.

But let’s face it.  All the stages are hard.  Parenting is HARD.  All of it.  But it’s all simply amazing right along with the hard.  The hard is worth it.

Soon there will be no tiny bodies to cuddle, because they won’t fit in my lap.

Soon there will be no screams for Mommy, because they will be in college and married and driving and won’t need me like they use to.

Soon there will be silence.  Silence.  The thing I crave most now, I’ll desperately miss all too soon.

So, weary Mama, try to live in the moment with me?  I’m right here in the trenches with you.  Deep in the mud of whining and fighting and mouths to feeds and bottoms to wipe and boo boo’s to mend.

Try not to wish away today but relish in the memories that you will create if you are present.  No one can REACH the heart of your children like YOU.  

Yes YOU.  The one who feels anything but adequate.  The one who feels like a failure most of the time.  The one who has made it to Friday, all drained and emotional.  I see your warm tears streaming down your face, because, mine are flowing at the same time.  

It’s okay to be weary.  But don’t try to do it alone.  You have a parenting manual- it’s called God’s Word.  Run to the feet of Jesus.  

The other night, after all the children were tucked in bed and I had sunk into the cozy brown couch and let out that sigh of relief…. I hear my soon to be three year old yell for Mama.  Who?  Who’s that, I don’t know her.  She’s off duty.  

I begrudgingly climbed up to the stairs and went into his room.  He quietly REACHED for me with his no-longer-baby-arms and wrapped his soft arms around my neck and didn’t let go.  That was a moment I’ll never forget.  I knelt beside his bed and just enjoyed the moment for what it was.  I chose to be present, and I loved every moment.

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