My almost two-year-old daughter Adeline LOVES to go up and down the stairs all by herself.
“I do it!” she screams. “No, Mommy!”
Oftentimes she will want to go down carrying several books and a baby doll, making the trek up nearly impossible – and at a snail’s pace.
Sometimes I pick her up to make it go faster.
It’s bath time and I’m in a rush.
It’s breakfast time and we are running late.
I get impatient and I hurry her.
Oftentimes when I scoop up her 26-lbs of soft baby chub, she screams “NOOOOOO” all the way down the stairs.
And I feel bad that I have let my impatience take over.
I’ve come to realize that I must let her do it herself.
I must be patient.
She is learning every day. Mastering new skills. Exploring the world.
And when I pick her up, I am hindering that process.
It makes me think about our heavenly Father.
Oftentimes, I bet he watches us moving slowly with too much on our hands and thinks, “gosh, I wish I could pick her up and just take her up those stairs myself.”
But He is a wiser parent than me.
He knows that its about the journey too, not just the destination.
And so He waits patiently, knowing that before long we will be running up the stairs.
Just like Adeline.
What lesson have your children taught you about our heavenly Father?
Leave a Comment
kathleen says
Not sure how to word this…..As our Father, God is always here for us. That said, it may not always seem that way. My daughters have helped me see this as they grow. Example: My youngest goes to school, scout activities, friends homes…there’s ‘me time’ for her, bedtime and so on. She knows without a doubt that know matter what, know matter where she is I am there for her (and her sisters). My girls have helped me Further understand that God is Always with us.
Jessica Turner says
What a powerful lesson. I think this is something that I need to constantly remind myself of.
susan says
Your article rang true for me, too! Why is it so hard for us to be patient with our little people?! But it is sometimes! One thing I have learned from my kids….
From the minute my babies were first born, I loved them so much, not because they could do things for me or had great skills. I loved them because they were my children….God has shown me that His love for me is not dependent on my skills or what I do for Him, but He loves me because I am His child!
Jessica Turner says
Aw yes. Dependence. A good lesson, indeed. Thank you for sharing.
Jesie says
This brought tears to my eyes this morning, as a child of a dysfunctional home I have strived to give my daughter the luxuries of a stable environment that I lacked growing up, and as a broken child, I myself find it hard to trust in our Father to know whatβs best for me. In this I find myself to be to controlling with my life and my child when I really just need to let go. I need to let God heal me and let my daughter learn how to be an adventurous strong child without the constant fear that I had. Thank you for the reminder.
Jessica Turner says
Praying for you to be reminded how loved you are. xo
Mary Kelso says
I’ve come to realize His solemn purposes. I want to be so intentional with my boys, to lead them into the path and success that is best for them. How much more does our Heavenly Father, intervene, discipline, extend mercy and direct our path? Every moment counts between me and my kids, and I am daily realizing (will probably never stop realizing) how much every moment with my Father has led me, built me, guided me, sustained me and made me who I am.
Jessica Turner says
Yes, moment by moment by moment. Grace upon grace.
Bendedspoon says
Is that Adeline in the photo? She’s soooo cute.
Ahh the joys of having kiddos and one of them is teaching us valuable lessons without knowing it or being preachy – just like moms, sometimes π
My kiddos taught me among others that I need not be perfect for them to love me (soooo much) — just like our heavenly Father; that I do not have to rely my happiness on another person but on God — my daughter smile the sweetest when she writes and declares ‘I love you Jesus’.
Thank you so much for the post. I got to remember the times when He didn’t immediately scooped me out and learned in the end that He loves me so much.
Blessings to everyone π
Jessica Turner says
Yes, it is. Thank you. π
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. Lies of perfection can be hard, can’t they? Blessings to YOU.
Georgi says
My boys, in turning away from God in the past few years (they are 16 and 19 now) have shown me His faithfulness, and never-ending love. I have had to rely on Him in ways I never dreamed. I thought I was doing all the “right” things – church camp, baptism, homeschooling, etc. – and there is so much pain and guilt in wondering what I did wrong. But He was always there, gently reminding me through friends, sermons that somehow seemed to be “just for me”, and what I was reading online, that it wasn’t my fault. Our children make their own choices, and sometimes those choices aren’t what we want them to make. But we have to let go and give them to God, and trust in His promises.
I recently told my oldest that I felt because of him, the talks we’ve had, and the stuff we’ve been through, that I am a stronger Christian now than I was when he was growing up. Of course I wish I could go back and say and do some things differently. Of course I made mistakes. We all do. I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned in parenting is that Prov. 22:6 is not a promise, that there is no “good parent” checklist, or that everything will be OK if you check off the right things. Experienced God at camp? Check. Got baptized? Check. Memorized scripture? Check. No, it’s much more than that. As a parent, I have to be faithful to lift them before the Father every day, no matter what their faith status, and trust the He who began a good work will faithful to complete it. I am not their Holy Spirit. I’m their mom who can keep praying for them, loving them, talking to them, and releasing them to Him.
Cynthia says
Enjoyed your article! I believe our Father is tempted to pick us up when we are carrying lots of “stuff,” as we climb the stairs. In fact, when we begin to stumble and we cry out to Him, I believe He breaks the fall. We look up, after resting, learning from our tumble, place a few items to the side, and continue to climb the stairs. This is the most beautiful part of the journey with the Father. Of course, those bumps and bruises don’t feel so great, at the time, but we are so much wiser, stronger and humbled by His love, after the journey. Many blessings to all! ~Cynthia
Karen Looby says
Just recently, my daughter taught me how much my sin hurts our Father’s heart. She has been struggling with a particular sin and when I realized how deep the sinful attitude was in her heart, I was dismayed and stricken. Immediately I thought of Isaiah’s description of how our Saviour would be “stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted” by our sin, by MY sin. I don’t think I really understood that aspect of Jesus’ obedience and His willingness to take all my sin on Himself until I felt the weight of my own child’s disobedience. And I was thankful for that lesson.
Bev Duncan says
After extensive knee surgery, I have to go up and down the steps like a toddler – one at a time. It is a sure reminder that God wants me to take life like I take those steps – one day (step) at a time. It’s amazing how God brings simple truths home to us!
Blessings,
Bev
http://walkingwellwithgod.blogspot.com
Bev Duncan says
After extensive knee surgery, I have to take the steps just like a toddler – one step at a time. It is a sure reminder from God that I need to take life just like I take those steps – one day (step) at a time. It’s amazing how God brings simple truths home to us. I am so thankful for his amazing patience and abundant loving-kindness!
Blessings,
Bev
Bev Duncan says
After extensive knee surgery, I have to take the steps just like a toddler – one step at a time. It is a sure reminder from God that I need to take life just like I take those steps – one day (step) at a time. It’s amazing how God brings simple truths home to us. I am so thankful for his amazing patience and abundant loving-kindness!
Blessings,
Bev
Maria Chambers says
Loved my sons when they were that age. Wish I had slowed down a little to enjoy them more. Their daddy was away a lot with his job, Two whole years in Libya. So a lot of the time I had to be both a mum and a dad. Now we are grandparents we are able to be totally there, because we now have the time. So we both got a second chance. My husband spends a lot of time with the children ,even baking cakes with Orla, so they receive a Father’s love from him. So we thank God for a second chance.
Andrea says
My daughter is a similar age and does the exact same thing! But she also wants us to hold her hand while she goes up and down the stairs. I’ve had to learn, not only to let her do it herself and not carry her against her will, but to stop and walk as slowly as she does hand-in-hand up the stairs. When I’m in a rush or carrying a load of laundry, I find myself growing impatient with how long this takes but one day it just hit me….why am I trying to rush her out of stretching her boundaries with her hand in mind. Someday, she won’t need that steady hand next to her and probably won’t ask for it. I need to always keep that perspective! She is just so eager to be a part of the action in our home and just loves to be with us! Now when I am carrying laundry, she holds onto my pant-leg as we go, one step at a time.
Lisa says
As a parent it is so much easier to intervene or do it ourselves because we don’t want to see our child fail. But their is growth in failure and the Father knows that. I think he’s a pretty smart guy. π
Barb Kennedy says
I have a20 month old great niece who though me what love was, and how God my father see me. I get such a joy just watching her, and learning new things everyday. When she was an infant she just being, and completely helpless, and I love her so. God was showing me that is the way he sees me. Just being me and so so needy of his love protection and guidance. It was this last 20 month I learned so much about my heavenly father. Oh your daughter is so quite, thanks for sharing.
Crystal says
My husband was nearly late for work today waiting for our toddler to go down the stairs on her own. Sit. Slide. Foot stuck. Shuffle. Plop onto next step. Repeat 14 times. But there is something to be admired in watching her work so diligently to learn how to do it on her own, and knowing that in the end, she’ll be better (and safer!) for it! Loved this post π
Alaina says
My toddler has taught me about sheer TRUST. He trusts me to give him nourishing food, enough rest, and loves being around me because he trusts me. How many times have I questioned God about what he is doing to my life? Why can’t I just trust God and KNOW He is working it all out for good??????
Missy says
I’m so thankful that He is a wiser parent than I. And that He provides the model for us. And that he’s patient while we take these Parenting Steps two feet at a time, sometimes.
Lisa Rohrbaugh says
I visited Haiti in 1984 and looking at your pictures, no change. I left a piece of my heart in Haiti and have never forgotten it. It always amazed me how the people are forced to live in dirty shacks and yet their children look so clean, pressed dresses and barrettes in their hair. God tells me you can live in this dirty world but not be a part of it. One day in heaven I know I will meet the Haitians that have stayed in my heart all this time. Thank you for sharing Haiti.
Jennifer Woodruff says
Loved this! I love how you shared your heart & saw yourself through your Father’s eyes. I’m sure God does that very thing…we as humans try to do everything so many times on our own that God is just waiting patiently for the day we finally give it up & over to Him. My kids, more than anything else, have taught me to see the world through innocent kid eyes. Adults complicate things! π Listening to them talk amazes me at how pure & innocent what they say can be. Then the love…oh the love! How they love like an innocent child does. I have to catch myself not brushing that off like it’s no big deal. I try to remember daily that I will miss these times when they are grown & doing their own things. Thank you for sharing!
Connie says
Love your thoughts here. I have an almost 20 month old and she loves the stairs too. We don’t have any in our house but when she sees some, even one, she wants to do it. They are perfect places for her to sit. But there are other things that she wants to do that I don’t have time for. Really good thoughts about how she is learning and growing with each step she takes.
I learn more about how much the Father loves me than anything! I just love her so much and if I love her so much, and God loves me more and more perfectly. That just blows my mind.
Also Abby blows kisses to every one and everything. Not sure if she is intending to show love to each thing but that thought, and how it blesses people that she blows a kiss too. I wish I could bless – or even think to try to bless every person that way! Thank you for jump starting these thoughts in me.
Jenna Manges says
I loved this post – the words came flooding back to me as I slowly, but surely climbed the stairs last night behind my 15 month old son and I immediately felt a smile wash across my face, replacing my feelings of frustration. Sometimes, as the parent, we know that it would be so much easier to accomplish the task at hand if our children would just let us help them, but so often they insist on doing it their way. I wonder if God ever feels like we do as parents – “this would be much easier if you would just let me help you or carry you”, but we insist that we know better and can do it ourselves, only to fall and have to be picked back up by our Heavenly Father.
Hope says
Not a parent yet but what a great post. How patient and wise our Heavenly Father is!
Beth Williams says
This article is all about our impatience with life. At time for me it moves way way way to slow & other it moves to fast. Don’t we all wish God would just pick us up & help us out of our trials & troubles & make life a wee bit easier. If He did that we would not learn anything & our children need to learn also.
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