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Little Parables with Levi and Mommy

I see more parallels to my relationship with Christ through parenting more than any other area of my life. It seems that from the moment I discovered I was pregnant with my sweet child, the Lord began more clearly revealing Himself to me and in aspects that I'd never fully grasped. Maybe it's not so much that He was just then becoming clear with me, as much as it was me hearing Him and seeing Him differently. .....

Through the eyes of a parent.

Levi has helped me understand more deeply, the love that God feels for me. When Levi was an infant and I prodded and tickled until he gave me a smile or something to let me know that he knew me as his mom, time and again it brought images to my mind of God prodding and urging me to talk to Him....to acknowledge Him.

When Levi would spontaneously smile at me when he was a wee one, it brought so much joy to my heart that I can't even describe it. I know it does the same with God when I spontaneously burst into praise to Him. I sat and waited. Waited for any little facial expression that resembled a genuine smile from my baby. God longs for the exact thing...but with me. His child.

I can't imagine a day going by without Levi smiling at me, interacting with me and depending on me for his every need. He's my son. How is that any different from what God wants from me? I am His daughter. He longs for a meaningful relationship with me just as I do with Levi. Do I depend on Him as much as Levi depends on me?

It would break my heart into a million pieces if Levi went about his day as if I weren't even there - ignoring my voice and pretending he can't hear me. Am I guilty of going through days without acknowledging my Father? Yes. And the mental picture of that is absolutely devastating.

As we enter this new stage of discipline and boundaries with Levi, the Lord has taught me more lessons than I can count. Levi's favorite "no-no" thing to do is play with the glass doors on the fireplace. Every time he chooses to play with these doors, I tell him "NO", explain to him why it's dangerous and remove him from the area.

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(This is the fireplace of which I speak. Sorry for the pumpkins. It's the only clear picture of my fireplace and it's doors I had.)

We have gone through this routine countless times now and the other day, Levi meandered his way over to the fireplace doors. I quietly watched to see what he would do. He speed crawled over there, stood up next to the doors and turned all the way around to look at me to see if I was watching.

"No, NO, Levi. We do NOT touch that. That is dangerous."

I could see the wheels turning in his little head and he ever so slowly began to reach for the door handle, never taking his eyes off of me.

"Levi! What did Mommy say? NO!"

He stopped mid way and looked at me again with a deer in the headlights face.

He looked back at the door and then again at me.

Wouldn't you know it, he slowly began reaching for the handle again and I caught him midway saying "NO. Levi, I said NO. We do NOT touch the doors."

This went on for a few minutes without him ever actually touching the door.

Finally after much correction, he stopped, sat down and crawled on to another toy.

This so blatantly reminded me of humanity and our sin nature. We are drawn to sin. It's enticing, appealing....it's easy. I have caught myself throughout different times in my life slowly reaching for the fire. Reaching out to what I know isn't right and the Holy Spirit gently intercedes before I fall and reminds me..."NO. This is not good for you. This is dangerous. I said, NO."

A few days passed and Levi headed toward the fireplace again when I wasn't in the room. I walked in and saw him swinging the doors back and forth and then POW - he lost his balance, fell back and hurt himself pretty bad on his way down.

Did I leave him laying there fending for himself as I crossed my arms and said "I told you so?"

Of course not.

I gathered him up in my arms, kissed his boo-boo, told him Mommy was here, and that he was going to be okay. Once the tears ceased I told him that was exactly why I don't want him playing over there, and that I only want what is best and safe for him. He sniffled and crawled away with his red blotchy skin and puffy eyes.

What does God do when we indulge in sin, trip up and fall? Does he turn His back on us and say "You should have listened!"?

Of course not.

He too, gathers us up in His arms, heals our self inflicted wounds, reminds us He is there and gently shows us that He knows and wants what is best for us.

Being a mother brings me humbly before the throne on a daily basis. The little life parables that we live out are not only noteworthy, but little doses of strength and comfort in knowing and reaffirming the love that our God has for us.
I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. Thank you SO MUCH for this post Whitney. I really needed it.
    :)

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  2. Wonderful post, and very, very true!!!

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  3. so very well put. beautifully put.

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  4. Whitney, I read your blog daily and I love it. I have never posted before, but this one was particularly great so I wanted to say thanks so much for sharing! What an awesome message.

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  5. Very good observations. Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  6. This is so true, Whitney. I remember when my youngest son was walking, and we were out together one day. He insisted I stop holding his hand, so that he could run. I let go, and within seconds he had fallen over on the pavement. I could really feel the Lord nudgeing me, "See what happens when you let go of my hand?" We learn so much about our relationship with Him through parenting, don't we?

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  7. Such a great post Whitney! I love the small ways the God reminds us of His love :)

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  8. Great post Whitney, well said! Glad you shared your heart, thanks!

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  9. Such a great post, Whitney, and so very true. I mentioned it yesterday on my blog and couldn't have explained it better than you just did.

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  10. GREAT POST!!

    We had the Lord's Supper on Sunday and I don't remember ever crying during it, but this time, I bawled. It is amazing the transformation of my relationship with Jesus - I can't imagine sacrificing my son for others or even to let him go through what Jesus did...and I just thank God daily for what He did for us. It is SO humbling. It's hard not to look at Bubba and not praise and thank the Lord :-)

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  11. Wonderful post and so very true.

    Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

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  12. Thank you Whitney. I so needed to hear that.

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  13. Thanks for the post Whitney.

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  14. Whitney you have indeed portrayed a beautiful picture of God's love for us through your love for your son. I too saw so many reflections of God yearning for me when mine were babies. Thanks for sharing a very vibrant picture of God wanting time with us. I'm so thankful for you and your witness of our Lord to so many. God bless you tremendously as you enter this next phase in Levi's little life.

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  15. Whitney, this is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing it!

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  16. I really like this post and I can so see where you are coming from though I'm not QUITE there yet! In any aspect...though I want to be :)

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  17. Wow! That was profound and thought provoking. Thank you so much for posting that. I am pregnant with our first, and I have even more to think about now.

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