My daughter needed me. It was the middle of the first quarter of the Super Bowl; our home was full of family, friends and people that I didn’t know yet, but wanted to get to know… but my daughter needed me. She came downstairs from her nap an emotional mess. She was fighting over toys and crying over the word “no.” She didn’t even respond to discipline. We made eye contact across the room, and I thought, “what am I doing?”
In the midst of all these people, she needed her mom. I scooped her into my arms and decided to take her for a bike ride. I left my home. I left all the guests. I didn’t finish putting out the food. I just needed her to know that she is more important than all these things.
As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in a coffee shop with tears in my eyes. I’ve missed so many opportunities to love and enjoy her. I’ve missed so many opportunities to model God’s love for her. I get so busy with life and the things that I am working on that I completely miss the joys of motherhood. I fear these moments will affect the way she views God, because my own limitations have affected the way I see God.
Until a few years ago, I believed in coincidences. My husband tried to explain that there are no coincidences in the world, but I would say if my socks fall on top of something I was missing… it’s just a coincidence. I couldn’t believe that God would care about those kinds of details. The Father, God, has so much to do, why would he care where my socks land? The problem was that I saw God through my own limitations as a parent. Eventually, I realized that although I can’t be everywhere and care about everything, He can.
Unlike me with my daughter, God is watching me all the time while I am standing in a world of chaos. Even when millions are suffering a devastating tragedy, He cares about where my socks fall. Do you believe that? Do you believe God cares about all the details of your life?
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.