It was 7:53 a.m. this Friday morning. Cody and I had been back and forth about getting out the door on time. Are your shoes on? Did you brush your teeth? Do you have your backpack? How about lunch? Hot or cold?
You know the drill.
I was in a mood. I'll be the first to admit it. I was in the selfish "I just need to get some quiet time in...I'm only on Day 3 of my Beth Moore Study and if I don't work on it now it won't be done by Monday mode..." and I realize life was going on and I probably wasn't as active a participant as I should have been. Add to it the toddler who decided 5 would be a great time to rise and shine. This tired mommy didn't get to bed until 11:30 last night. And a mommy who's had something going on every single night this week. Add a little crankiness to the mix and you've got a recipe for a rough morning.
Back to 7:53. Cody needs to leave the house by 7:50 to walk with his friends down to the bus stop. As I was helping him zip his coat and grab his bag, he saw his buddies walking...but they were almost to the bus stop. He began to sob...I mean SOB...that he might miss the bus. Jerry hadn't left yet, but was just getting ready to pull out, so I literally yanked open the door, threw Cody in the car, yelled to both of them to "just go, just go!" because here I was in my pink bathrobe with my hair all a mess and really people. You just don't want to see me at that hour in the morning. But I was less-than-sweet, abrupt in my approach, and it was not a nice send off for either of my two guys. I even had the gall to yell at Cody to "pull it together, you're not gonna miss the bus so just knock it off" kind of a sentiment. See, I told you. I was the picture of sensitivity.
It hadn't been a minute after they'd left, and the guilt had taken over. Thankfully, I had my Moms in Touch prayer meeting this morning, and the Lord had already been working on my heart about how poorly the day had started. I desperately needed to meet with the Lord over this one. I hated that I sent Cody out the door that way (and Jerry too for that matter), but especially my sensitive kindergartener. Each and every day, we have devotions, we pray together, and we make sure we are grounded in God's Word before anyone leaves the house. We did the same thing this morning, but my harsh words were the last things on Cody's ears as they drove away. Not the usual hug, kiss, love you, be a light for Jesus exchange we usually have.
I know none of us is perfect. We all fail. We all say and do things we regret. And the only thing I knew to do was make it right. And I did what every sensible mom would do. I grabbed his winter coat (it was cold here today and I worried he'd be chilly at recess), a handful of orange oreos, and headed off to school to see him at lunchtime. Even after I blew up at him this morning, there he was sitting with his little friends at the table, waving and beaming at me. His mommy.
I went over and knelt down next to him, said what I needed to say, and his little arms wrapped around me as he whispered in my ear, "It's okay mom. I forgive you."
Thank you, Lord, that Your mercies are new every morning. And thank you for orange double-stuff oreos. : )
You know the drill.
I was in a mood. I'll be the first to admit it. I was in the selfish "I just need to get some quiet time in...I'm only on Day 3 of my Beth Moore Study and if I don't work on it now it won't be done by Monday mode..." and I realize life was going on and I probably wasn't as active a participant as I should have been. Add to it the toddler who decided 5 would be a great time to rise and shine. This tired mommy didn't get to bed until 11:30 last night. And a mommy who's had something going on every single night this week. Add a little crankiness to the mix and you've got a recipe for a rough morning.
Back to 7:53. Cody needs to leave the house by 7:50 to walk with his friends down to the bus stop. As I was helping him zip his coat and grab his bag, he saw his buddies walking...but they were almost to the bus stop. He began to sob...I mean SOB...that he might miss the bus. Jerry hadn't left yet, but was just getting ready to pull out, so I literally yanked open the door, threw Cody in the car, yelled to both of them to "just go, just go!" because here I was in my pink bathrobe with my hair all a mess and really people. You just don't want to see me at that hour in the morning. But I was less-than-sweet, abrupt in my approach, and it was not a nice send off for either of my two guys. I even had the gall to yell at Cody to "pull it together, you're not gonna miss the bus so just knock it off" kind of a sentiment. See, I told you. I was the picture of sensitivity.
It hadn't been a minute after they'd left, and the guilt had taken over. Thankfully, I had my Moms in Touch prayer meeting this morning, and the Lord had already been working on my heart about how poorly the day had started. I desperately needed to meet with the Lord over this one. I hated that I sent Cody out the door that way (and Jerry too for that matter), but especially my sensitive kindergartener. Each and every day, we have devotions, we pray together, and we make sure we are grounded in God's Word before anyone leaves the house. We did the same thing this morning, but my harsh words were the last things on Cody's ears as they drove away. Not the usual hug, kiss, love you, be a light for Jesus exchange we usually have.
I know none of us is perfect. We all fail. We all say and do things we regret. And the only thing I knew to do was make it right. And I did what every sensible mom would do. I grabbed his winter coat (it was cold here today and I worried he'd be chilly at recess), a handful of orange oreos, and headed off to school to see him at lunchtime. Even after I blew up at him this morning, there he was sitting with his little friends at the table, waving and beaming at me. His mommy.
I went over and knelt down next to him, said what I needed to say, and his little arms wrapped around me as he whispered in my ear, "It's okay mom. I forgive you."
Thank you, Lord, that Your mercies are new every morning. And thank you for orange double-stuff oreos. : )
4 comments:
Oh my, you did such a wonderful thing. YES I've been there, too.
Steph
Oh.. there are tears in my eyes! You are a good mommy for going to lunch with him! And what a little sweetie he is! I've had several mornings like that lately and God has convicted me immediately to apologize and try to do better. It is tough being a good mama when the day doesn't get off to a good start. Thanks for sharing!
One morning this week I was there. Mark was up and my battle is consoling the toddler who doesn't want to see his brother leave on the bus. Fun.
If only we could be that forgiving like Cody. What a lesson!
Lori
We can all relate!!! I hate when I lose my cool with my kids!! I feel like I am undoing what I have worked so hard to do. I feel like I show them the ugly behavior I scold them for. I feel like I lose credibility but am soooo humbled at their eagerness to forgive Mommy!!
Thanks for sharing this, glad to know I am not alone!
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