I have read the story of Peter stepping out of the boat many times. I think of that moment as he gazed across the water and Jesus said just one word…COME.
An invitation.
Did Peter then turn to the others and say…Could you pray about this for me? Did he then write down the pros and cons of taking that step? No. He simply stepped out in faith. To walk on water towards Jesus. It was only when He took His eyes off of Jesus and looked at the water, that fear took over and he began to sink.
The rustling of his two year-old tootsies against the crib mattress rouses me from my slumber. He scales the side of the crib and clambers over to me. Not yet enticed to vacate the warm hug of my flannel sheets and fluffy comforter, I whisk my son up into bed with me.
He snuggles up close and presses his soft, flushed cheek to mine. He is still.
All to soon, my little tornado will wreak baby havoc on our house. Meals will be rejected. Pots and pans pulled from cupboards. Clothing strewn across the floor. Perhaps an entire over-sized canister of rolled oats will coat the first level of the house…
But here, now…I relish the sweetness of a chubby hand cupping my face and the precious babble, “Bahdah bahdah,bahdah bahdah, Mama!”
Having tantrums is part of being a toddler. Almost anything has potential to trigger a tantrum in a little one. When my kids were little, they had plenty of tantrums. There was rarely a day when someone wasn’t having a tantrum over something.
There were many days when I felt like banging my head on the floor right along with the fit thrower. However, I realized early on all this would do was make one more crying person. Mom losing her cool only made matters worse. Someone needed to maintain their composure, and it needed to be me.
Once I realized I needed to keep my cool when my little ones were losing theirs, I tried to figure out how to stay calm.
I laid there beside him, just watching him sleep, so peacefully and at ease. A few minutes before he was restless and anxious. He couldn’t sleep and called for me in the night. I quietly responded to his call, my mother’s heart softened to his little disheartened cries.
With in seconds of my presence his anxieties melted away and he was immediately able to rest. As I watched him so overwhelmed by my love for him, a quiet thought occurred to me, a picture, if I love this child so intensely… how much more does my Heavenly Father love me?
This is something I have struggled with for years, believing that He loves me, that He could love me.
My favorite part of The Princess Bride occurs near the beginning.
As you wish.
“As you wish” = “I love you.”
Do you ever question someone’s love when they continue to repeat behaviors that disappoint you or hurt your feelings?
As you wish really is a beautiful way to say, “I love you.”
Jesus spoke to His followers and to us about the priority of love when it comes to obedience.
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
I stared into the blue water of the pool, then down at my flip-flops. I lifted a wary eyebrow towards my brother. His eyes wide, he nodded, encouraging me to take a step.
“You’ll walk on water – just like Jesus,” Jay told me. I had completely dried from our summer dip in the pool and stood wrapped in my faded Kodak towel my mom got for sending off the UPC codes from film boxes. Kneeling down beside the pool, I removed a flip-flop and gently placed it on the water.
To my seven-year-old delight, it floated.
My brother, almost three years older and wiser, stood smug beside me.
Our pastor gave an illustration a couple weeks ago that made me smile and write some notes on my bulletin. He painted the picture of parents who finally get some time to themselves — a weekend away or just an afternoon date. The first few hours are glorious with great conversation and laughter and then she glances into the backseat of the car to check on them and he takes the Disney CD out of the player and they exchange that look that says, “yeah, we kinda miss them.”
They drive us NUTS, but yet, we do begin to miss them when they’re not around.
I know it’s cliche, but it’s so true; a mom’s job is never done. It’s 24/7. Whether you’re working or stay-at-home doesn’t matter. Even if your not with your kiddos all the time, your mind is running crazy with all of your mommy thoughts. It’s exhausting! I know. This stay-at-home mama of 3 has been there. And I’m not ashamed to admit that anti-anxiety medication is just one tool that I use to manage it.
But another tool I’ve found helpful is simple positive thinking. At New Years I resolved to take simple steps to “Be the Best Mom” I can be in 2013.
