Tuesday, at Community Bible Study (CBS, for short), as I picked up our older two from class, Anna had a meltdown- in the hallway, in front of all the other moms waiting to pick up their kiddos. Meanwhile, above this, Abigail was whining loudly that Anna had her take-home papers and she had Anna's. These meltdowns of Anna's are becoming more common and frustrating. Knowing we were being watched by everyone, I knelt down to her level and pleaded that she tell me what was wrong...rather than scoop her up and take her out the door (which is always my first instinct). She was wailing! I was embarrassed! Finally- the explanation!
"I didn't get to pray with Ms. Shirley!" [in between short breaths]. The Children's Director, gladly opened the door for an upset Anna, and led her back to her teacher to have prayer before leaving. A fellow mom, ran up and expressed her warm fuzzy feelings- "All she wanted was to pray with Ms. Shirley!" We peeked in through the little square window and watched Anna receive her own personal prayer. And the tears just ROLLED down my face! How precious this was, and to think I could have missed it and messed it up by allowing my frustrations to overtake the situation. It was an eye-opener for me.
I have begun having prayer time with my girls individually. Seperate from our family prayer time before meals and bed where the girls have lifted up names of family/friends; this has been so different...SO INCREDIBLE! I have requested that the one not having prayer time with Mommy go to the bedroom and wait for her turn. So it's just me, one of the girls, and God. As they sit completely STILL deep in my lap, I get to pray with them, praise their accomplishments of the day, and in Anna's case, pray for her belly that's been hurting, and lastly thank God for Anna "who has beautiful curly hair and draws such pretty pictures". We both say "Amen", and she just looks up at me with big, sweet eyes, and my heart beams with love for her! The same with Abigail- I close hers, "I thank you God for my Abigail who is such a good helper around the house". She hugs me and says she loves me sooo much! Aliza, smiling, bobs her head while I say a 5-second prayer with her. Our relationships have changed SO much in just a few nights of doing it, I hate I have missed out on this precious moment with them for so long. I think God was sending me a message through Ms. Shirley. Sadly, I often find myself in the role of Martha...too busy, and distracted with the WORK and the routine that I don't just stop and be MARY!
"I didn't get to pray with Ms. Shirley!" [in between short breaths]. The Children's Director, gladly opened the door for an upset Anna, and led her back to her teacher to have prayer before leaving. A fellow mom, ran up and expressed her warm fuzzy feelings- "All she wanted was to pray with Ms. Shirley!" We peeked in through the little square window and watched Anna receive her own personal prayer. And the tears just ROLLED down my face! How precious this was, and to think I could have missed it and messed it up by allowing my frustrations to overtake the situation. It was an eye-opener for me.
I have begun having prayer time with my girls individually. Seperate from our family prayer time before meals and bed where the girls have lifted up names of family/friends; this has been so different...SO INCREDIBLE! I have requested that the one not having prayer time with Mommy go to the bedroom and wait for her turn. So it's just me, one of the girls, and God. As they sit completely STILL deep in my lap, I get to pray with them, praise their accomplishments of the day, and in Anna's case, pray for her belly that's been hurting, and lastly thank God for Anna "who has beautiful curly hair and draws such pretty pictures". We both say "Amen", and she just looks up at me with big, sweet eyes, and my heart beams with love for her! The same with Abigail- I close hers, "I thank you God for my Abigail who is such a good helper around the house". She hugs me and says she loves me sooo much! Aliza, smiling, bobs her head while I say a 5-second prayer with her. Our relationships have changed SO much in just a few nights of doing it, I hate I have missed out on this precious moment with them for so long. I think God was sending me a message through Ms. Shirley. Sadly, I often find myself in the role of Martha...too busy, and distracted with the WORK and the routine that I don't just stop and be MARY!
