Tag: God the Parent

Space Mountain

My four year old is the size of an average six year old. No lie. And he has zero fear. He LOVES thrill rides! So on our recent trip to Disney he wanted to ride ALL the rides. 

As soon as he heard the words “Space Mountain” he was on board. But I was not so sure. “It’s going to be dark and kind of scary. It goes really fast and I will have to sit behind you because I can’t sit next to you on that ride.” He heard my warnings but said, “I still want to do it!” 

So off we went to the mountain. He got a little nervous before we boarded but he was reassured when I promised him I’d be right behind him the whole time. We buckled in and he gave a big thumbs up to the cast member starting the ride.

Our little spaceship turned the corner into the darkness. I was watching the seat in front of me, waiting for it. And a moment later a little hand peaked over the edge. I grabbed on to it and gave it a little squeeze. I held his hand for the rest of the ride. He absolutely loved it!

Sometimes we have to go through dark and scary times in our lives. Maybe we had no idea what kind of ride we were in line for. We suddenly lost someone or something that we depended on and were thrust into the darkness with no notice before that first drop.

Maybe we knew exactly what was in store for us but we knew it was something we had to do. Perhaps it was a bad habit that we had to give up to get more freedom in our lives. Or something we knew we had to stand up for or fight for because it was the right (albeit hard) thing to do. 

Or maybe we find ourselves going through a dark time with someone else. Someone we love has decided to push forward and enter the darkness, so we go along with them and their Disnerd friend who honestly didn’t know that it was your least favorite ride (Sorry about that! I swear I didn’t know!). But we go with them because we love them and want to support them. 

When you find yourself in a dark and scary ride, remember to reach your hand back. God the Parent is watching and waiting for that chance to comfort you. He hasn’t left you, he is with you the whole time, even when you can’t see him. 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” Psalms 23:4

Pain in the Gums

“The baby’s teething.” One of the scariest sentences for any parent in that first year. Some babies handle it well. Others… Well, that’s when it gets rough on everyone in the house.

My son did not enjoy his first teeth. At. All. And that’s putting it mildly. He’s normally a very happy and content little guy, but once those chompers started pushing through, it was game over. He was miserable. Day and night.

So this momma, who had just returned to work, began her new nightshift position in the nursery. Baby boy would wake up screaming and no matter what I tried, it didn’t quite calm him down enough for him to actually fall back to sleep. I tried rocking, bouncing, nursing and singing but none of it helped. He would calm down for a few moments and then suddenly remember he was miserable. As if he was worried that I had forgotten, he reminded me with the loudest cry humanly possible for such a small pair of lungs.

Finally, myself nearly in tears, I looked down at my son and said, “I know this is hard right now. It really hurts. But it’s just something you have to go through. It will get better, I promise.”

My little guy was not trying to be dramatic. His tooth pushing through was probably the worst pain he could remember in his entire life. For some reason, telling him that I understood his pain and that his pain was not going to last forever made sense to him. Or he was just past the point of exhaustion (like his momma), he finally relaxed and fell asleep.

How comforting it is to know that God our parent knows not only our pain, but that it is temporary! How does he know? Because he can see beyond this moment in time. He knows that painful experiences will occur, but there is a purpose for it.

Baby boy would not thank me in the long term if I prevented his teeth from coming in. It would have removed his immediate pain, that’s true. But how would he bite into a cheeseburger or cookie (his all-time favorite) without those teeth? The pain, though overwhelming at the time, had a purpose.

In the end, God can use even the most miserable times to bring about something good.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us… And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:18 & 28

I’m Right Here

It’s bedtime. I’ve worked a long and stressful day and came home to a messy house, dinner that had to be cooked, and a fussy baby. And now it’s finally bedtime. All I want to do is sleep. All she wants to do is stay attached to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love holding my baby. I love rocking her and singing to her. I love the scent of her hair and the feel of her little tiny fingers caressing my arm. But right now, I want to sleep. I want her to sleep. And I have to put her down.

She is not pleased, to say the least. As soon as I lay her down she cries. I rub her belly and make shushing sounds to calm her. She begins to relax. Until I stop touching her.

So, I do what any parent would do who wants to calm baby and get some rest, I reach through the bars of the crib and place my hand on her belly again and lay down on the floor next to her. She can’t see me. She starts crying again.

But I’m still here.

You can’t see me, but I’m still here.

Listen to my voice as I sing to you. I. Am. Right. Here.

How many times must God feel this way with me? Not the need to rest, God doesn’t need sleep like I do. But how often do I want him to stay holding me in his arms and immediately cry out if I feel like he has left me alone?

He hasn’t left me alone. He’s just out of my line of sight. But if I listen to his voice, I can remind myself that he’s not gone. He never leaves us. He is right here.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8