Two thoughts to share

I am just so amazed at how God can infiltrate my life and mind and teach me in the most normal moments. I wanted to share two HUGE things God showed me yesterday, during my quiet time? NO! While I was sitting on the couch playing with Mali!

1. I've had some struggles with Mali throwing fits and clinging to me when I take her to ballet (this just started a few weeks ago and has gotten progressively worse). I've felt so many things, a lot of them guilt and thinking I'm a bad mom for some reason because, surely, I've caused this maladaptive behavior. I also get fed these ideas from other people too. So, God just spoke to me that I'm not being a bad mom because Mali acts this way, in fact I'm being a good mom by being there when she gets out and always picking her up. I'm teaching her about Jesus and how he has promised to return to us and one day will. Now, I do not compare my self to Jesus and his return, but I'm beginning to learn about parenting Mali so that she sees Jesus in her parents and can easily desire a relationship with Him.

2. Mali is very active and my tendency is to think "we need to get out of the house" or try and find an active activity for her. Yesterday, I sat on the couch and tickled her and said "Mali, you need some crazy time" (that was Holy Spirit inspired, seriously). So I yelled "go, go, go" and similar phrases, while she ran around the living room crazily. That is when God spoke to me again. I realized that when we have problems I tend to parent less by getting her out of the house when the solution may just be to parent MORE by actively coming up with or engaging in an activity with her. Yes, I did know these things from my training, but it was an ah ha moment for me. You can pray for me to take more of these opportunities with Mali if you think of it. It has been even harder with running here and there with errands and work.