Try again

This morning, while making muffins with my almost 3 year old, I was given some insight into the kingdom of God.

Unless we become like little children, we cannot enter in. But if we do, we have so much to gain.

Mr Elijah, who is a determined little boy, pleaded with me to let him help make muffins today. I reluctantly agreed to his request and let him pull up a stool. As he stood there, ready and waiting to help, I mechanically grabbed the ingredients. Quickly I placed them on the counter and began measuring and dumping, trying to hurry through the process. I'll let him do the baking powder. Or the salt.

But when I began cracking the eggs, he said "cun I quack one?" I thought about how so often I say no, and how I have purposed to say yes more often. "Oh, all right" I said.

And the egg went splat!

Actually, it dripped off of the counter, some of it oozing into the silverware drawer. Yuck! At this point I am thinking "okay, enough of that. I will take care of the rest."

Undisturbed, he smiled all big and said "we hasta twy again!" My patience was less than optimal and I wanted so badly to say "not now" and tell him to go play. But something inside of me knew that I needed to say "yes."

So I did.

But this time I put my hand on his as he cracked the egg, thinking I had better make sure we don't have to clean THAT up again. And do you know what happened? The egg went SPLAT. Right on the floor. Again! And why did this happen? Because I was pressing too hard. Trying too hard.

Oh, boy! Two eggs on the floor, and five other kids are awake and getting hungry. And by now, my patience was really challenged. And what do you suppose he said to me? "We hasta twy again mama."

And he was right.

Then there was a pause in me. A heavenly pause. And I knew that a child had taught me. The image of God was shining through my little boy, bringing light into my heart. Showing me that failure is just an opportunity to try again.

Let them come unto me. Do not hinder them. For to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Moments in life

There are moments in life when our heart swells full, and the world is right. We are being held and loved. We set aside our worries and troubles, and we fix our gaze upon the Father of all.

When we are living in these moments, something amazing happens. We cry, we smile, we rest. And from above He gazes at us with loving eyes, so glad we have come.

He holds us in his secure arms, and he restores our strength. He takes our burdens, and he lifts our weary faces up so that we can see what he sees. A beautiful child. Made to bring beauty. Made to carry life. Made to carry love. Walking the path of sacrifice and greatness, just as he did.

Just a little while in this place, and our souls can carry on. These are the moments when hope grows. Such beautiful, precious moments.