II Thessalonians Chapter 3

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” (II Thess. 3:5 NIV)

A Prayer for Our Children

Please protect and strengthen my little one from evil so that she may honor You through the spreading of the gospel. May You direct her heart in Your love and perseverance, surrounding her with all those who labor hard and well in their work. Keep her from idleness, never allowing her to tire from doing what is right. Fill her with Your peace at all times and in every way and may His grace reside within her this day. ...

Part 2

“Can we have a picnic?” Sweet girl excitedly bounced, looking at me with wide, sparkling eyes. “Can we?”

Smiling fondly down at the happy little girl before me, I could not resist her enthusiasm. “Yes,” I consented, “we can have a picnic for lunch.”

“Yaaaay!”  Little girl jumped high with excitement and twirled in a celebratory dance.

Our picnics consist of a blanket spread out on the floor and us sitting down on it, balancing plates of food on our laps and napkins in our hands. We love our picnics as it gives us a welcome break from the conventional kitchen table and mealtime routine.

Thinking about the rushing to and fro from Sweet one’s unexpected trip to the doctor’s office earlier this morning to our mad dash to preschool with a very tardy Sweet one, dressed in her pajamas and armed with no coat, I was more than willing to grant my little one’s request. 
     
With sunshine pouring through our tall wall of windows, Sweet pea played in her small corner, building a series of Lego beds for her tiny Lego animals while I readied lunch. The pleasant chatter from my little girl’s mouth suddenly changed to that of anger and frustration.

“I can’t! I CAN’T” the harsh, defeated words spat out Sweet one’s mouth. “Grrrrr!”

As the angry words continued to pour from my little one’s lips, I wiped my humus-covered hands on a towel and hastened into the living room. “Sweet pea, what’s wrong?” I crouched down beside her and placed a gentle hand on her small shoulder.

With eyes glaring, she barked, “I...CAN’T…DO…IT!” Flecks of saliva flew from her mouth, finding their unintended target against my cheek.

Taken aback by the sudden change in disposition, I tried again, this time with even softer tones, “What’s going on, Sweet pea? What’s wrong?”

​Once again, the angry tilt of her brows communicated their displeasure. “Nothing’s wrong, I…CAN’T!” she clenched a small plastic piece in her hand, “No, No, No, No!” she exploded. 

I heard my Mommy’s voice (you know the one – firm and non-nonsense) emerge from my lips, “Sweet pea, please step away from your toys so that we can talk.”

Well, as I am sure you parents have already guessed, my command was not met with great favor, acquiescence, or pleasure from the little one who stood before me. I will not go into details, but all I can say is that it was like Mount Saint Helen’s erupted a second time; fiery in its strength, wide in its berth, filling the air with caustic granules, and resulting in a large wake of collateral damage. That the battle between little girl’s sinful, willful self and Mommy’s efforts to exert calm, establish authority, and expect obedience waged in our home for what felt like hours. 
     
​When the ash finally settled, and the air cleared, my heart felt bruised and broken by the vehemence and defiance thrown at me and absorbed like sonic sound waves. While Little one sat protesting in her bed during a time out, I cried on the phone through a voice mail to my poor husband. “…and the worst thing is that she seems more sorry that I have taken away her favorite DVD today then she is about what she did to me,” I sniffled through the recording. “She hasn’t even truly apologized, and that really hurts,” I blubbered.

With the hierarchy once more established, Little girl and I proceeded through the afternoon in a state of unsettled calm, our hearts and spirit both sore and cautious. I sat downstairs, praying for peace, wisdom, and direction as Little one finished out her quiet time when a pitter patter against the roof filled the injured air, soft at first and then with greater intensity. It rattled against the wall of windows and spoke like the voice of God to my seeking ears. Be washed clean by the waterfall of my peace and dance with joy in the rivers of my love. 
     
I sprang up from my chair and ran for the front door. “Sweet pea!” I cried with new found energy, “let’s go splash outside in the rain!!”

Sweet one tore out of her bedroom and slid down the stairs in lightening speed, a gleam of excitement in her eyes and a wide smile on her face. “Can we go out in the rain?” she asked as she bounced with excitement.

​“Yes!” I grinned back, running for the umbrellas and her rain coat in the closet. “Quick, put on your sneakers and let’s go!” Like a fish gasping. to be thrown back into the water, we scrambled into our shoes and jackets in no time, pausing only to throw open our umbrellas as we ran to be in the onslaught of rain.

She, with the big, bright, red umbrella and me, somehow left with the child sized, transparent plastic, Mickey Mouse umbrella, twirled, splashed, and danced in the waterfall of rain drops, revel in the warm caress of water against our cheeks. Splash! Sweet one giggled loud and bright, stomping in a huge rain puddle and achieving her end goal of thoroughly soaking Mommy. However, let it be said right here and now, that Mommy equally holds her own in the world of water battle. Splash-SPLUSH! A drenched Sweet pea shrieked with laughter while I jumped up and down in a large pool of liquid joy, deluging my little girl in a monsoon of water. 
     
​Just as God sent the rain earlier in the day to minister to my places of need, God sent a rain storm in the afternoon to wash away shared hurts and injuries of the heart. Sweet one and I gloried in the waterfall of raindrops but more importantly in the mutual shared joy that filled our hearts to overflowing. As we played in rain puddles, engaged in water battles, twirled under umbrellas, and drank water from the heavens with uplifted faces, God knit our hearts back together through His healing pools of life-giving water. Our hurting hearts were washed clean through His waterfall of peace and healed by the rivers of His love and joy. Splish-splash, pitter pat, splosh,  splish, SPLOOSH!

Later, after we dashed inside, soaking wet and drenched to the skin, cheeks glowing pink and creased with smiles, Sweet pea and I tumbled into the shower where we shivered to warmth and played with soapy bubbles. As the warm water sprayed over our torsos and limbs, I stood in the wet warmth while Sweet one happilybusyed herself with her bath toys. “Will you forgive me, Mommy?” she suddenly asked with her back to me, squatting in the tub as she played with a bright pink, plastic hippo. Warmth tingled through me, overflowing my heart with gratitude to God to hear this sincere request. Here, my little girl, after a stressful morning and defiant afternoon, was showing true remorse and apologizing from her heart. 
     
She peeked at me through wet soaked bangs, hopping her pink hippo up and down in the water.

“Of course,” I said, smiling down at her, water trickling down my face. “I love you, Sweet pea. And thank you for your apology, it means so much to me.”

Sweet girl beamed up at me, her eyes full of sparkle once more. An inner light softly glowed, illuminating her from within. “I love you too, Mommy,” she chirped and then turned back to her play. 
     
I stepped out of the shower, leaving Little one to her fun. Eyes closed, and face lifted up to heaven, I silently thanked the Lord for His precious gift of love, joy, and forgiveness that He pours out upon us in undeserved measure. “Thank you, Lord,” I mouthed to the sounds of Little girl’s innocent, child play and her sweet voice that rang out above the splashing water, “for You are faithful and true."

A Parent's Prayer

Oh Lord, help wash away the hurts from my injured heart. Wash me clean in the rivers of Your loves o that I might be made whole again. Please help me forgive those who have sinned against me and free me from the bonds of unforgiveness. Help me to dance in the healing waters of your love and joy this day.