Guest Post: Jessica Turner
I’m so excited to have my friend, Jessica Turner sharing a post about parenting and faith on my blog during my Mother’s Day week celebration. This post first appeared a few months ago on the (in)Courage website and I fell in love with it. I’m so happy that she allowed me to share it here. Plus, it gave me the perfect excuse to put a picture of her son Elias on my blog, which is never bad :)
Anyway, Jessica’s blog is called The Mom Creative and it is a favorite (seriously… check it out). I love it because it’s a place that allows me the freedom to celebrate motherhood sans the guilt trip for working full time. Excellent.
Crying from the Crib
My 19-month-old son is at that age where he doesn’t want to rest. He is too excited to discover the uncharted world around him.
But sometimes, he needs a nap.
In those moments, I scoop him up – one arm under his bottom and one arm around his middle, my hand gently rubbing his back. As I put him in his crib, I kiss his cheeks, and say, “I love you Elias. It’s night-night time. Go to sleep little one.”
Sometimes he will lay right down, but more often he will fuss.
I repeat, firmly, but still lovingly, “It is night-night time, sweet boy. You need to rest.” I then walk away from the crib and him, as he cries with big crocodile tears streaming down his face.
I hate to see him so upset. But as his mother, I know that sleep is what is best for him, even if if it hard for him to understand in that moment.
So I let him cry.
As he cries, I stand outside his bedroom door with one hand on the door handle, listening and thinking, “should I go in?”
I know if I go in, he will beg me with outstretched arms to take him out of his crib. And I won’t be able to resist.
But he needs the rest.
I don’t go in. Instead, I wait.
His cries turn to whimpers.
He gets quieter.
He yells “Mammmaa!” one more time, but it doesn’t some sound desperate.
I stand outside the door, saying quietly, I’m here honey. Right here. Go to sleep. You need that sleep. I haven’t left you.
He sleeps.
Isn’t that kind of like God when we are in a hard situation?
We cry out, God, please rescue me! And it feels like he has abandoned us.
But in actuality, He is on the other side of the door, right there with us, wanting what is best for us.
Moses told Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
The same is true for each of us. God goes before us and is always with us – even in the times when we feel stuck like a baby in a crib.
I never feel like God's not with me. I don't spend a lot of days just screaming wondering where He is.
I also use sarcasm a lot.
That is a great post. I can see why you wanted to repost it.
It is really good isn't it?
I have had my moments when I have felt that God wasn't with me… or at the very least when I felt he wasn't paying attention. Some day I'll blog about the time that God and I were on a break (that I initiated of course).
When I feel that way I rely on my community of friends to help pull me back. I think that's what the body of Christ should be all about. In those times I have learned to never underestimate the prayers of the saints.
Loved this post.
And I agree. It's hard to find good working-mom blogs. We need to start a club. :)
Ugh – I totally agree about the club. It's needed.
Love this! It makes me think of the verse in Song of Songs that talks about God his left hand is under our head and his right arm embraces us!! BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing!