An Out of Sorts Kind of Day

Yesterday was the first day back with the "little ones" in a week! It was so great to see them and they all seemed to have grown so much in just those few days! Of course the boys are of the age that a week is a long time -- they learn and develop so quickly at that age! Kind of makes me think about how we perceive time vs. how God perceives time:-)

Everyone was glad to see me too, and enjoyed showing me all their Christmas gifts. I was really laid back from my long "vacation" and the kids were really calm considering all the hype of Christmas! One of the twins even started to cry when I left, I guess because he was afraid he wouldn't see me again for another week!?

Today . . . well, the honeymoon was over today. They were all glad to see me, but all day it was like, "Oh, Mary's back." All three of them were just out of sorts--with themselves, with each other and with me! Hmph! They were not terrible - not by a long shot, but it was like they each needed to re-establish the boundaries, reiterate the rules and see if "the old girl" had forgotten everything while she was off:-)

I would tell one of the boys not to go in the road -- several times I turned him around and got down on his level and told him not to go out of the driveway. Each time he would get right to the end of the driveway and start inching out, to see how far he could go before I turned him around again. Finally, I picked him up, placed him on the grass and put the bike away. He didn't pitch a fit--he just unzipped his jacket and threw it on the ground. I guess when you're two that's about the most defiant thing you can think of:-)

The other two each had their own moments throughout the day. At one point I remember separating the boys and reminding them, "no hitting, no biting, no pushing, no grabbing, and no mean talk." Big sister likes to argue and try to negotiate and rationalize everything I say.

So, the God connection? I test the limits all the time! I try to rationalize and negotiate with God. I push the envelope, tread on thin ice, hang by a thread . . . whatever you want to call it. I press my luck, as my mom used to say. I may do the right things but I don't always have the right heart. I may say the right things, but I don't always back up my words with actions.

Sometimes, honestly, I don't even do or say the right things - and it's intentional. Yes, I really have trouble getting flustered or taking things my little charges do personally. Because I know where they're coming from. I'm pretty firm, but pretty patient. Thankfully, God is too!

So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?[Romans 2:3-5 NIV]

Cheerios, Bananas -- and Sin?

OK. Bear with me here! It's been a busy morning but my mind keeps going back to this morning's breakfast for the twins. At 23 months, they are desperately trying to be like their 4 year old sister -- I mean they want to do absolutely everything she does!

Well . . . she eats Cheerios in a cereal bowl. Most mornings the boys will snack on dry cereal while their 'real breakfast' is being prepared but this morning, since sister was having Cheerios -- well, I think you can figure it out. They were not happy when I placed a handful of Cheerios on their trays. As soon as they started fussing I knew what was up so I got out two bowls and two spoons and placed one of each on their trays.

The boys immediately began scooping up Cheerios and putting them in their bowls. Then they achieved varying degrees of success in actually scooping the Cheerios up with the spoons and getting Cheerios into their mouths. After about half the Cheerios ended up on their laps, the boys were still pretty hungry so I gave them each 1/2 banana. Out go the Cheerios, into the bowl goes the bananas:-) One twin ultimately gave up and picked up the banana and ate it with his hands then went to work on Cheerios off the tray.

The other twin got more and more frustrated with himself. He finally picked up the bowl and dumped out the banana and replaced the Cheerios. OK by this time, he's pretty upset because he's really hungry and not much food has actually made it into his stomach, let alone into his mouth!

Finally, he picked up the bowl full of Cheerios and held it over his head, intending to make one final angry gesture before he really looses it! Guess what? The Cheerios didn't fall out of the bowl! He was quite surprised - as was I! Fortunately that allowed an opportunity to make a joke and act silly, and remove both mangled banana, Cheerios- adorned cereal bowl and slip some buttered toast on the tray all in one fell swoop.

I don't know why I had this thought in the midst of the breakfast drama, but I imagine God has opened my eyes to see things through a different lens since I decided to start this blog. Think about it. Isn't that how sin is. Once we sin, it sticks to us, hanging on for dear life until we confess it and ask God to swoop it away?!

Like Cheerios sticking to a banana-y cereal bowl, sin just hangs on and no matter how we try to dump it out or throw it off, until we face it, confess it, and ask God to make it right, we're just not going to have peace about it.

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.[Acts 15:31 NIV]