Let Your Children Love You
Dear Momma of Littles,
While sitting in church a few Sundays ago, my mind started wandering and my eyes started scanning the congregation. I was drawn to a family across the sanctuary several times.
What drew me there? The energetic little boy, a couple of years older than my Seth. I assume his legs were pumping under the seat, because from the waist up he was rocking back and forth. He was smiling and looking around; every once in a while he would lean over and give his momma a hug or kiss.
I paid close attention to that momma. What was she going to do?
Insead of trying to pin her child to the seat because she was afraid he might distract others, she calmly allowed him to do what his body was screaming to do: MOVE.
She did not push him away when he leaned over for a kiss. She even intiated the kiss a time or two when her little boy went to pull away.
Momma was happy, her son was happy, the rest of the family was happy, and I know that God was smiling down as well.
How Would I Respond?
I thought about how I would look in that situation. With a little boy who couldn’t sit still, in a place where most would say stillness and quietness equal respect and honor, how would I respond?
Would I be like that momma, smiling and returning her son’s love? Or would I turn into one of those “grumpy Christians”?
One who lacked all joy and patience because my son was not sitting how I thought he should?
One whose worry that my son would distract others, distracted myself from worship and praise?
One who secretly wondered if those I shared the row with would think I was a bad parent for not controlling my son?
I came to the conclusion that I would probably turn into a grumpy mom, because this a scenario that has happened in the past and that is how I reacted.
Don't deny someone the blessing that come with showing love, accept the love and love in return. Click To TweetHow I SHOULD Respond:
This conclusion saddened me. As a thriving Christian I should be full of joy and patience (Galatians 5:22-25). The Giver of Life has given me the gifts of grace, mercy and eternal life, I have every reason in the world to be joyful!
We are told to enter into God’s house with thanksgiving and joy.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
If I am worrying about how my child is acting in the service, it takes my mind away from the real reason I came to church: praising God and blessing his name.
Dear momma of littles, please let your children love you.
Allow Your Children to Love You
That momma taught me another lesson: She returned her son’s obvious affection with delight.
Many times I find myself pushing my boys away because I am too busy, or dirty after a run or bike ride. I shouldn’t be denying them an opportunity to love. They don’t care that I am tired, grumpy, or dirty, they are simply expressing their hearts. I should joyfully accept their hugs and kisses.
Allow the Father to Love YOu
All of this led me to another thought…
do I joyfully accept my heavenly Father’s overtures of love, or do I push them away because I am dirty with pride, grumpy with selfishness and envy or tired of this small, light cross I have to carry?
Dear Momma of littles, while you are going through your day, whether you are surviving moment by moment or conquering each task with enthusiasm, don’t push away your husband or your children and their acts of love.
Most importantly don’t push away your heavenly Father’s hand that is reaching out to shower you with blessings. Perhaps your husband and children are God’s way of blessing and loving you today.
Dear momma, look for those moments and accept them joyfully, no matter where you are. Let them love you.
If you are all dressed up in the church sanctuary, if you are at home sweaty and sticky,or if you are in the aisle of the grocery store, don’t deny someone the blessing that come with showing love, accept the love and love in return.
Let’s work on this together.
You May Also Like:
To the Momma Who is Desperately Trying to Be Mary
15 Books Every Momma Should Read
Teach Your Children What it Means to Be Joyful
Well said. I think I do this to my husband sometimes and it’s a good reminder to welcome his affection and my children’s someday, even when I’m busy or tired.
Exactly. I think I push them away sometimes because I feel empty, if I would let them love on me a little more maybe my love tank would be filled a little better.
Beautiful! Great reminder as I too have the tendency to be that grouchy mom.
Wow Bekah, so beautiful!
This is one of my favorite posts EVER from you! Fantastic!
Thank you Kristen! 🙂
Just read this to pa, he said, he couldn’t begin to write these beautiful words with such good meaning.
Aww. 🙂 Thanks Gram and Pa. 🙂
Beautifully written !!If I was in your place even I would have turned into a grumpy person.Lesson learnt.Thank you for sharing 🙂
Excellent post. I think at our church the littlies dance around, it is called “New Creation Family Church” so I guess it’s ok. Nicky climbs all over me and around. He used to crawl everywhere. Once the baby bible class goes out I guess order is restored!
I love to see the children in church! Your church sounds like the are very accepting of the children, just as Jesus would want them to be.
What a heartwarming post. It truly is the small things in life that are so important, yet easily overlooked or grump-ed away.
Nothing can sneak by you faster then your child growing up…..
Happy to Co-Host Bloggers Brags with you. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board.
I LOVE this!! Unfortunately, I’m the “grouchy” mom sometimes when it comes to this. 🙁 I’m glad you wrote this. I now view it so differently! 🙂
Thanks! I always hope that someone else will be able to learn something from the things I am learning.
Wonderful post! I keep thinking about this mornings church service and what a sweet, loving mood my daughter was in. At first she ate a cookie and drank her milk while sitting quietly in her seat. Then she wanted me to hold her. I sang the worship songs between kisses and cuddles from my sweet angel. I just enjoyed that time so much, worshipping Jesus while loving on His little one. So precious.
That sounds wonderful! Our three-year-old sits with us every once in a while because he has a SS teacher that scares him. (she teaches once a month) I always try to have a snack and our church offers quiet bags for littles. Most of the time he does really well and sometimes it is a little bit of a struggle. I really hope I remember this lesson that I learned by watching that family.
Such great tips. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in life, we forget to slow down and enjoy our blessings. No matter how small. 🙂
Totally! I know there are many times during the week that I have to stop, take a deep breath and remind myself that my boys are happy am healthy and I need to stop being so grumpy and hard on them.
Thank you! This is a lovely reminder!
Thank you for coming by Nikki! I hope you come again! 🙂
Great reminder! Too often I am Grumpy Mom. And Tired Mom. And Overwhelmed Mom. But my kids are always the same…they just want to play with and love Mommy! Great post!
One of the things I love about children is how easily they show their love and affection. Where I sit and think about things, “how will this look”, “what will they think”, etc. They just do it.
Yeah, I am totally that grumpy mama! Why can’t 5 year old boys with too much energy just sit still??? lol
If you find an answer I would love to hear it. 🙂 I definitely think that children should learn to sit, but sometimes their attention span is short and then those little bodies need to get going. I just love how much this momma “spoke” to me, even though we never talked. I haven’t even seen her since that Sunday, she was there just to be an example to me I guess.
I love this! Often, if my toddler is melting down, I simply ask if she needs a hug. More often than not, that is all she needs to calm down and tell me what she needs. It is so simple, yet sometimes it is hard to remember as the parent because we get tired and frustrated, too! I think “let them love you” should be our toddler parent mantra!
Thanks for coming by, Brittany! I just love how much I am learning as I go through the toddlerhood stage. How much they have taught me about my faith, my own imperfections, and my strengths. Let them love you would be a great mantra.
Wow. That’s a powerful reminder. I’m a mom of three little boys and often go to church by myself with them. I find myself swinging between loving mom and grouchy mom. Thanks for this reminder to lighten up and allow myself to love and be loved.
It is so hard to not always be the grouchy mom! I definitely have to rely on the Lord for strength and joy, and reminders like this that prompt me to be more joy filled.
So beautifully written.. made me a little teary as well.. thank you
Oh such a good reminder! I find I push them away too often too. Especially because I am in no way a physical touch person but I shouldn’t let that dampen their affection for me. I should feel blessed that they want to love me. Thank you for such a good post 🙂
You’re welcome!! I can relate, because I grew up in a family that isn’t big on physical touch, I had to grow into the constant touching, and there are still days where I need them to back off a bit, but overall it has gotten better.
Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing this :).
Oh man, good post. Convicting and encouraging at the same time. Thank you for writing this!
You’re welcome! I just got through it and edited all the horrible grammar…haha!! I’m so glad that even through bad writing God can use Surviving Toddlerhood to speak to others.
Lovely reminder I needed to hear this morning. I loved this post!
Your words touched my heart! Our Lord speaks beautifully thru you.