Rylann and I have just gotten home from a glorious 10 days playing on the beaches of Maui. It was truly a blessing to be away from the hustle of normal life and spend some much-needed time together. The trip went by without any major hitch and I found myself with loads of extra patience and grace. ‘What? You don’t want to go ni-night without me?’ hmmm, I’ve got nothing else I need to do… ‘Okay, let’s snuggle!’ And then our plane touched down and very quickly our daily life caught up to me…
Grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, schoolwork and back to work, doctors appointments and cheer practice… where do the days go? In just 72 hours I’ve found myself morph from a ‘yes mom’ to a ‘not right now mom’. I’d prefer that this was not the case, but reality dictates that things need to get done. Not everything and not impeccably, but many responsibilities are a necessity in life. So what happens when you’re spread so far that you can not meet all the needs let alone some of the wants of your children? As most of you know I’m in the process of flying solo on this parenting journey, it’s just Rylann and me and about 20 other close friends and family that have become our village in this season of life. Sometimes I can’t do what she needs in her time frame. If you’re safe, warm, loved and fed… then the next step my sweet daughter is to learn patience!
I was on an important call, while packing some snacks before heading out to work and Rylann was frantic that she needed help ‘w-ight now!’ to get her shirt over her head. I calmly told her mommy was on the phone and she would have to wait. The conversation went longer than expected and Rylann came back to ask in about 30 second intervals until finally it appeared she’d found something to occupy her time. I finished up with the phone calls and headed into her room. There sat my daughter fully dressed and beaming from ear to ear. I immediately started doing the happy dance and congratulating her on her success. Well no sooner had I started the celebration then Rylann quickly stopped and said “Mom, my didn’t do it by myself… God taught me!” And then proceeded to explain how sad she was that I was on the phone when she needed help, so God came and taught her how to do it instead. She ended with an emphatic “and now my will always know how!” And she has…
How did Rylann learn to put her shirt on? How did God teach her something so practical? I don’t know, but I do know that although I have been given the honor of being her mother she was His first. Although I can’t imagine anyone loving her more then I do, He does. I know if need be I would give my life for her, but He already has. This was just another reminder that I am not parenting alone. The entire responsibility of raising this little girly up does not lie on my shoulder, my village and God has my back.
