The weather was so beautiful yesterday! I was glad when our super-busy and rather stressful day finally wound down and we were able to go for a walk/bike ride around the neighborhood while we waited for daddy to come home from work (he beat us, unfortunately!). Anyway, we passed a friend’s house and stopped to pet their dog in the backyard. Quite some time ago, they had two but they had to put one down. My nearly four-year-old remembered having stopped to pet two dogs in the past, so she asked why they only have one dog now. I suppose it’s spring, Easter is just around the corner, so it’s a perfect opportunity to talk about the cycle of life and death and the meaning of Easter, right? Our conversation went something like this:

Avery: Why they only have one dog?

Mom: They only have one dog. [It takes me a minute to process that she remembers they had two.] They used to have two. [I hesitate.] One of their dogs died. After dogs live their full life out, they die. [Long pause, and I am trying not to cringe, not really wanting to talk about this but not wanting to make it taboo or scary either.]

Avery: I have a cat. My kitty won’t die.

Mom: Well, actually, after our kitty lives out her whole life, it will come to an end, too. New kitties and puppies are born all the time and then after they live out all their days, they die. Then new kitties and puppies are born.

Avery: Why?

Mom: Well … That’s the way the God made the earth, it’s the circle of life. [I said some other stuff here but I don't really remember what, I am certain I was just rambling.]

Avery: People die, too? [I must note, she said this rather upbeat--but it was almost more of a statement than a question.]

Mom: Yes, people are here for short time, born as babies, then after they live out all their days that God has given them, they die and go to Heaven. That’s why Jesus died for us so that we could go to Heaven with God after we are finished here on earth. All you have to do is accept …

Avery: Then, there’s new people! [Increasingly enthusiastic.]

Mom: Uh, yes, babies are born every day. That’s … [I'm interupted as she cautiously rides through a puddle and then is no longer interested in the conversation.]

So, even though I didn’t quite get to the whole story, I was excited when it was over that I had even had the opportunity. It all went so fast! It would have been so easy instead to just ignore her question or say, “Yep, they have just one now.” And say whatever I want about where the other dog is. But, what an amazing opportunity to lay the foundation for her understanding of life, death and, most important, the Gospel. I don’t say this to pat myself on the back; I didn’t plan it, I didn’t expect it, and I don’t take any credit for what I did or did not say. I’m just so thankful that God used me in the moment to say those words in a loving way. Avery doesn’t understand yet, and I know that. But when she’s ready to understand, I won’t have to backpedal through any lies or mistruths or confusion simply because I avoided the truth.

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15

My mom, my daughter and me in the same little red knitted dress.

For more Wordless Wednesday entries: WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes for Mom

Today I am wearing my mommy uniform, so proclaimed by my adoring husband. It consists of black jogging pants (with a stripe so they’re fancy), a red cotton shirt (it’s cool today so it’s a long-sleeve one) and a black matching hoodie. And I guess I have to admit: I wore the same thing yesterday. Is it really that bad?

It’s clean! It’s a miracle in itself that it doesn’t have snot, throw up or any other results of natural bodily functions encrusted on it. It survived a day and deserves a second chance. So, maybe a day or two in between wouldn’t kill me. But it would require more thought. I have enough to do than to set up an excel spreadsheet (those of you know my husband will appreciate this reference) of my favorite cozy outfits to wear, how many times they’ve been worn and when they were last washed. So, I save myself the trouble and wear it two days in a row.

This also saves me from doing unnecessary laundry. If I am not careful, I err on the side of washing, which means something may have only been worn once and it goes in the washer. That’s a lot of extra work that could be saved by ensuring I’ve worn something to its full extent. Makes perfect sense to me. Besides, it’s comfy!

There’s a lot of pressure, at least in some circles, for moms to look good all the time. It’s part of the supermom image. If you don’t have time to do your hair or wear the latest fashions, you must not be a good mom, right? Ridiculous! I find the more effort I put into making myself look like the perfect mom, the less likely I am to feel like one. So, pull your hair into a basic pony, and wear your mommy uniform with pride!

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

My daughter is 3 1/2 so we have our fair share of screaming in the house. Just this morning, she was running around her room naked, throwing a tantrum because she wanted to wear underwear instead of a pull-up—a consequence for lapsing in her potty training. After telling her repeatedly “no,” and listening to her nonsensical screaming, I finally said “I don’t need to listen to this” and hid in my room. Literally. I dove under the covers in my bed and closed my eyes. She panicked of course, first because I left and then because she couldn’t find me. As she screamed “Where are you, mommy?” I did start to feel a little guilty. But just then I was having a revelation. That’s exactly what I do with God sometimes. I guess I can throw a pretty good tantrum, too. And then I wonder why it seems like He’s not there to help me. But He doesn’t want to listen to anyone whine and carry on any more than I do.

So, how can I apply what I know about parenting to my relationship with God? When I don’t get my way, what should I do? I suppose I need to let Him know in a respectful way that I don’t like the way things are (or seem to be). I mean, that is okay, but then, quite frankly, I need to accept they way things are and move on. Sometimes all He has to say is, “Because I said so.” And that’s that. That’s all it should have to be. I’m trying to teach my toddler her response to any request or command should be “Okay, mom.” So, mine is now, “Okay, Father.” Or, I can ask Him to change my situation and believe that if it’s His will, He will. He has my best interest in mind so I can know that no matter what, He’ll give me the strength to get through any “unfair” circumstances in life. But it could be a while before my brain tells this to my heart. I ask God now for patience and acceptance of any situation. In the meantime, He’s got His work cut out because I can be a toddler at heart.

Even though I may have times I feel God has turned His back on me, He’s always there, waiting for a tender moment, like when my daughter finally lifted the sheets and, stifling her tears, softly said, “Mommy?” Unlike me, a mom who may be at her wit’s end in a moment’s notice, God is strong. He will never leave me or forsake me. He is and was and is to come. When I remember that, my relationship with God can be made stronger if I simply come humbly before Him when I feel like throwing a tantrum.

” ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8.