Do you remember life as your littlest self? Where you could be anything you wanted, and your imagination ran wild because fear did not yet cripple you? As I was picking up the living room (for the 100th time), I came across Lilah’s art pad. As I flipped through, page after page was filled with images of color, relationship, rainbows, and possibility.
My prayer is that she never loses her curiosity, wonder, and imagination. That she always remembers that she is set apart in this world. I pray that she never be crippled by fear, but instead, remembering whose she is. I pray that she always has the ability to express herself, growing into the truest version of her.
Maybe you need this reminder today too. What is that thing or experience that is holding you back? Imagine you as your five-year-old self. What did you dream of and hope for? What would your pictures have looked like? Maybe, instead of rainbows, and possibility, your pictures hold grief, loss, or disappointment, or the feeling of never measuring up.
If you could go back, what would you remind yourself of?
I know I would tell my younger version to be gentler and kinder with myself. I would remind myself God is for me.
And friend. Let me remind you.. God is for YOU. He has plans for you. Your future is bright.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” – Jeramiah 29:11
Who knew Menards would be the place that I would be given a powerful reminder? Tonight, my husband and I just had our son with us. Our daughter was on a special night away with her Nana. As we were wandering Menards – in part looking for sprinkler heads and part pure exploration, we took our time. We lingered. We found ourselves going down isles for no reason other than to be curious and be without hurry. To be together. Most often, we go in with a mission, and a timeline. Tonight, it was different.
As we headed toward the check out at the end of our visit, I turned my eyes from the items lined up on shelves around me, and the (already displayed) Halloween décor that intrigued my sweet Aiden. It was then, that I was caught in my tracks of the sweet reminder that was right in front of me and had been the whole way through the store. My husband, walking Aiden in the cart, but with it backwards. Aiden was in the front, facing out looking at the world around him, and Elliot behind. Squeals and giggles as he was head on.
In this moment, it reminded me to pause and ask:
Who is turning your cart around for you in the midst of your journey, to help you see clearly at what is in front of you, instead of what is behind?
Who is the person that is showing up to give you a better picture or vantage point, even if it may not be the most convenient for them? An opportunity to experience, awe and wonder, even if in this case, it was simply looking for the Halloween display with glowing eyes and items on the shelves.
And then..
Is there someone who you could be tuning the cart around for?
Who needs you to be that person, to go out of your way, to give them a better vantage point? Maybe in the slower pace, the better seat, a word of encouragement, truth spoken over them when the false narratives replay in their minds.
To some, it was just a dad being silly pushing the cart the wrong direction. But to me. And to Aiden. That was a dad, choosing to give his son the best perspective, to let him have the best seat.
Grateful. For backward carts + a really great dad – who gets it.
By now, you know that I have two little ones – Lilah and Aiden. A few weeks back, I was in for an unexpected treat of spilled juice + sweet reminders.
We were in the dash between work and soccer, stretching to fit dinner in the mix. Have you found yourself in that place before?!
We happened to be watching my niece and nephew as well. We piled them all at the table, having Lilah and my niece (both 4 years old) sit themselves at the table, as we were lifting the boys, one after the other to their spots. I had a brief moment in the midst of my rushing to grab some juice to be “more fun” for our special guests. Juice always makes things more fun – of course!
I had my niece to the right of me and my daughter kidi-corner across the table from me, and just as Lilah went to pick up her juice excitedly for her first sip – S P L A T. All. Over. She spilt. I wish in hindsight, I could have told you I handled it differenty. Or possibly even tell myself, “Julie, it is not that big of a deal”.
But, I didn’t. Instead, I let out the biggest sigh I knew how to in the moment, and let the words, “every time” come out of my mouth. I quickly turned to my left for my husband to double down and affirm me in my frustration, and he of course did with his response, “EVERY time”. Phew! We mutually agreed in our frustration.
Friends, it doesn’t end here. If anything, this is where it starts..
As quick as 10 seconds later, my niece mutters out, “it is okay auntie, everyone makes mistakes”, with a smile. She continued, “the only person who didn’t make mistakes was Jesus”.
Stopped dead in my tracks, I looked to her, “yes, yes we do all make mistakes”.
Seconds later, Lilah perks up, “AND, God sent Jesus to die for our mistakes”.
Humbled by this moment, my posture changed. From frustration and a rushed spirit, to a small side smile as I realized just what God was teaching me in that moment.
I took away two things that night around the dinner table. Although, I am sure there were more sweet reminders within.
First was that I never want to be so busy focusing on the to-do’s or the mess that is in front of me to instead pick my head up in the right posture to see the ways in which God is working in and around me, even in those I love – in this very instance, it was my sweet daughter and niece.
Second, was the realization that so often I over complicate my faith. I strive to find the right words or sometimes choose not explain at all in fear that I get it wrong or will look silly. But then, I replayed those sweet voices in my head over and over again..
“every one makes mistakes”.
“only Jesus did not make mistakes”
“AND, God sent Jesus to die for our mistakes”.
Because of this we can be saved by God’s grace. It is that simple. This moment left me with the reminder that I want to wake up each day, with a childlike faith that doesn’t over complicate what God wants us to know and recognize easily with confidence.
Maybe you need those reminders today too.
Friends, we don’t always get it right, but even when we don’t, God does. He can gently remind us of what is important and who is important. In the midst of the spilt juice and all. I am thankful today for spilled juice + sweet reminders.
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