The Messy Stove

“Just give me a little space!” I squeeze out as my arms are raised above my head and 6 little hands crowd around me to help pour and stir the “gredients.” All I want in that moment is to check dinner off of the list of meals that I am to prepare for the day, and their greatest desire is to help, every step of the way! A “please try not to splatter” here and an “oops, sorry Mommy” there all lead to two things: a dinner that makes its way to the table at least 30 minutes later than necessary and a really messy stove to tackle after we eat. During those moments I feel all kinds of emotions ranging from love to frustration, but one specific day when the crumbs settled and I beheld that awful stove, I felt like the Lord just tapped me on the shoulder and said, “It is a pretty big, time-consuming mess when you let your kids help with something you could easily do yourself, isn’t it? I know what you are feeling. I feel it every day when I allow My kids to be a part of My plans and My work. But I love seeing them full of purpose and joy when they get to help, and I am always there to clean up the messes. You’re welcome.” And I just stared at that stove trying to cement that image in my mind so that I could bask in the patience and love of the Lord towards me and beg Him to teach me how to love my kids in the same way. You see, He loves them so well, and I just want to help.