The poor thing, she had been up all night hacking.
I shut my door.
“I can’t sleep if all I hear – is her,” I thought.
I wasn’t trying to be cruel, but, we all know how mothers end up when sleep gets lost. They turn ugly, mean and tense. I hate being that lady; I get mad at that lady. Anything not to be – that lady.
Hours later, the barks still ensued. Then, an internal battle ensued – do I get up or do I not get up? My mind wrestled: If I get up, I will never get back down. I will never fall back to sweet and delicious sleep again – I know how this game goes.
I climbed out of bed, checked the clock, stubbed my toe and headed to the medicine cabinet. It was the unseen hour that called for more medicine. Moms don’t give up.
Begrudgingly, I kicked open the door, my mind half out of its own mind. I stumbled in, expecting to drop the junk down her throat and stumble out. But, what happened next woke me. It jolted me like coffee.
From her helpless position, she looked, and said, “Thank you, mommy.”
My heart nearly dropped to the floor. Wow. She sees. She knows. She appreciates.
I felt alive. I would have gotten up a thousand more times, every single night (well, maybe), just to hear that sweet honey come off her lips.
I mattered.
Do I show God he matters like that? I wonder. I doubt it.
Guilt hits. Then, love arrives. God doesn’t need me to know he matters; but, I need him to know I matter. And, maybe this is the point. It’s probably far less about what he gets from these words and far more about how I feel when I speak these words. It is far more about me seeing the rescues, the panaceas and the answers that arrive out of nowhere. It is far more about me realizing how loved I am and how far out of his way he would go to help me.

It is the unwavering trust that he will do it again.
It is seeing him as he is – good.
Thanks is anticipation of God’s faithfulness. It, frankly, is delicious.
Jesus knew what Jesus was saying when he said “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these!” Loved this post and what it taught you.
Thanks for sharing that sweet moment. I’m just coming off a teen age version of the same thing — my 16 year old left for a class, and when the vehicle got onto the road he blessed me with a friendly good-bye beep. Not a big deal, but nice to know that he remembered that sweet little goodbye.
Aren’t mums just sappy push-overs?!
So beautiful, Kelly. Love how God pursues us in His compassionate kindness. This especially spoke to me: “It is the joy that comes from receiving instead of striving.” Oh how my heart needs to receive that message, time and time again. Thank you for encouraging us here, Kelly. Your words are a balm.
you are a great mom. no guilt allowed. sweet photo! thanks for your faithful hosting each week. xx
I can relate. Our kids can take us from selfish to selfless in a heartbeat. So sweet Kelly.
xoxoxo