“Mama? Mama?”
His sweet, sleepy voice calls from the top of the stairs. It’s after midnight, I’m staying up too late with Christmas to-dos.
I don’t respond verbally, but rise from my chair and head towards the stairs. By the time I reach them, I see he has turned and headed back to his room.
He’s crawling back under his covers. Expectantly. Waiting for his mama to come tuck him in again. Reassurance that I’m around.
He quickly falls back asleep. I stay and stare at him. He has grown since his 8pm bedtime. And he is starting to look more like a six-year-old I think.
I can’t help but be moved by his innocence and faith. His complete trust that his mama will come. He doesn’t shout. He doesn’t even stay to make sure I’m coming. The faint sound of my footsteps is all he needed.
Of course not all night-time calls are like this. There are nightmares and sickness. Sadness and insomnia. Where the calls are more frantic and unsure.
But tonight, just a normal night. A son checking in.
And like so many times, his action reminding me why Jesus said to become like little children. Trusting in a world where love reigns. Not yet marred by suspicion. Oh how I want to protect him from any form of betrayal that may come.
Yet, that is exactly what Jesus offers. A world where love reigns over betrayal.
Like my son, on my dark nights I call out desperate. Wanting to make sure my Father has heard me.
But unlike my son, on my normal days and nights, my trust doesn’t always flow so effortlessly. I wonder if He has heard my whispers. I wonder if he sees me washing dishes. In my light saber duels. In trying to house train a new puppy.
Sometimes I’m tempted to think He is too busy for my daily life. But then, my son sweetly and sleepily calls from the stairs. And I come.
And through him, I am reminded. My Father says “I hear you. And I come. I see you and I am with you. Keep talking with me. I will be with you in vacuuming carpets. In waiting at the bus stop. In learning Jedi language.”
My tired feet stand at the top of the stairs and my sleepy voice calls out. I hear His footsteps coming. He opens the door and shows me where love was born and where love reigns.
This Advent season may we accept his invitation to live more of life with him.
A beautiful picture of Advent and Love … So glad I came over this morning.
Yes, yes indeed…thanks for such a beautiful and tender reminder…
Oh Melanie, I am sure you fall in love with your son day after day after day. This is so beautifully written, full of grace and compassion!! We are only human parents ….. and if we love our children so much within our limitations, how much more does our Heavenly Pappa, the source of all love, love us. Thank you for reminding us.
Much love to you and a big kiss to your little darling!
Mia
I absolutely love this! In a past prayer journal, I have a very similar entry. Alayna saying all the time around 2 years old…”Here, mama. Mama do,” as she would hand over something to me that she couldn’t do on her own. And then walk away without a concern in the world-completely trusting that it would get done. And I had the very same thought as you—oh to have faith in our Abba the way a 2 year old has faith in her Mama. That’s what He calls us to do-though it’s harder for adults. Which is why he calls us to have the faith of a child. Yet I continue to pray and leave something at His feet, then walk away still worrying at times instead of giving it all over to Him. “Here Daddy. Daddy do.” Then I need to learn to walk away, at peace and full of faith. So much to learn from our kids–so thankful in the way God uses them. Thank you, Samuel, for the reminder.