On this chilly winter morning, which will quickly turn into a most beautiful warm Texan day, we donned our boots and coats and hit the garden. Right now our garden is a bunch of thick clay-mud full of weeds and worms. Sawyer was so excited to hunt for worms this morning he could barely stand it. He was equipped: bucket, rake, shovel, spoon, knife. The only thing that stood in his way was the glass door. When I finally opened it, he was out like a flash. Jahnabell was quickly on his heels waddle-running as fast as she could. She then plopped down right in the dirt, no hesitation of getting her cute outfit dirty at all. Sawyer quickly took to making me a mud pie while he looked for worms.
As a mom who tries to stay orderly so that I can keep my sanity most days, I have been trying to embrace the mess of childhood. The mud pies, the paint all over the place, the blocks that extend across the living room and kitchen (and stairs and dining room). Sawyer said to me the other day: “I love you Mommy!” I replied: “I love you too!” He followed with: “I love you! Especially when you play with me.” That hit my heart in a way I cannot even explain. They do not care if the kitchen is clean or the carpets are vacuumed; they care if I am down on the floor pretending to be lions with them or seeing how tall we can build a tower. They love going on walks in nature together and pointing out every single flower, rock, and pile of poop that we see. They love coloring on the sidewalk with chalk and playing hide-and-seek behind the trees. And they love their Mama spending time with them.
I know I cannot throw the chore chart out the window. But I can be more mindful of how much of my day is consumed with getting what I think needs to be done accomplished and how much is consumed with the two cutest kids on the planet (seriously, they are). I have the most amazing opportunity to cultivate a love for life in these two. And that is by showing them the unconditional love of God. Even though we disobey Him, He chose us, and called us His children!
Lately Jahnabell will point to The Jesus Storybook Bible and ask to read it. She then flips through the pages saying “Jee-sus.” My heart melts absolutely every single time. She also likes pointing at Goliath and say “ha-ha-ha” in the most adorable voice. (In the story of David & Goliath, Goliath has a terrible laugh that we try to make sound terrifying, but I end up sounding like an ogre.)
The greatest gift I can give my babies is my time and my un-distracted attention. What is incredible is this parallels what we see in scripture. God sent his son Jesus so that could spend eternity with him.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:16
I want Sawyer and Jahnabell to know this and to treasure His gift above all else.
** We have been exploring the mud a little more lately. Eventually I hope to make a Mud Kitchen. Check out this great website on homeschooling and amazing activities for children. It’s by a sweet mama friend from Denton: TheHummingRoom.com **
- Dusty
