Safe in His Arms and other Asides

Traveling...with kids...on a plane...to Texas...Fun right? I say that somewhat sarcastically because yes, it can be fun to vacation with kids (at least I've been told that by others and very much look forward to it some day), it can also be highly frustrating. This season of our married life is difficult because our three kids are all under the age of six. When we go anywhere together it better be well worth the trip and we are definitely going to get our monies worth. 3 car seats, a pack-and-play (aka we pack it so you can sleep in it), blankets, snacks, etc. This too shall pass...("either it will pass or I will pass" - Mark Lowry)

We just got back from a family vacation to Texas and rather than drive which I would liken to the "machine" in Princess Bride (I mean I'm very brave, but no one can withstand the machine) we gathered our traveling circus and boarded a plane for a two and a half hour flight.

Now, I don't know about you but I don't want to afford two and a half hours of snacks because that is literally what it would take to keep them quiet for that long (and it would "eat", pun intended, into our vacation budget of $17 dollars. Okay, we had a bigger budget than that, I may have been exaggerating a lot)...So stuffing their faces full of the Sunday School staple goldfish (which is probably what manna was in the Old Testament right?) and Tang (just kidding, there was no Tang, I'm cheap but not that cruel, besides they would have had orange tang mustaches) we soldiered on.

The plane trip to Texas was fine, kids did well...much better than I was expecting. Brenda handled them like the champ that she is and I really didn't do much, she really is an awesome mom for those who didn't know that already...

The trip home is where I'd like to settle, because it's where I learned something about God and myself through one of my kids.

My daughter Kimmel (named after our dear friends Andrew & Susan Kimmel from Texas) is a beautiful little girl with a goofy smile and a winning personality...she's in the copy stage where she copies everything anyone says or any noise that is made. (translated for those without kids...it makes car rides loud and repetitive) She's currently 18 months old and toddling around, and it was through observing her behavior on the plan that I got a clearer picture of how God interacts with us.

Ever notice with kids that the more tired they are the faster they seem to move, the more wound up they seem to get? I mean, for goodness sake, try and catch a toddler that is over tired, it's like trying to capture the combination of NFL football hall of fame running back Barry Sanders, a slippery fish, and a hummingbird. (sorry you got mixed up in this Barry, and thanks a lot for making the Tampa Bay Buccaneers your personal highlight reel throughout your career)

Well this phenomenon happened to Kimmel on the way home. After waking up and corralling our many bags, back packs, and car seats through the airport we happened to board the plan right at normal nap time. Well, she was having to be held for take off and wasn't having it, she was a floppy-fish-whiny-wind-up-monkey-toddler that had no interest in laying down and napping. But I just tightened my hold on her as she thrashed and flopped knowing from times that if she would just lay her head down she'd be out in seconds.

Sure enough, her struggled to keep moving grew weaker and weaker, and finally she lay her head on my shoulder, snuggled up with her blanket, her heartbeat calmed, and eventually it almost felt like our heartbeats were in sync...at rest, and she was asleep just as we took off for Tampa.

I got to thinking about how as a Christ follower I'm like my little toddler...consumed with busyness, with going and doing, much of it very worth while kingdom work. But sometimes I'm so tired and need to rest but I speed up..."I can't stop! There is one more phone call, email, text, facebook conversation, sermon to prep, planning, leading...people need me!"

All the while my heavenly Father steadily holds me to His chest whispering the thoughts only a creator can have for his treasured creation. I am safe in his arms...I am safe to rest. I NEED to rest. He reminds me that the work I do for him is not to earn his love, I already have that, it's not to keep his love, I can never lose that...I am His and He is mine. I love because He first loved me, I serve because He first served me. I rest because I am safe in His arms and I need to recharge, to slow down and allow him to reaffirm His love for me.

Same for you...don't forget to slow down daily and allow your heartbeat to sync to your heavenly Fathers...He loves you and you don't have to work to earn that love, He loves you simply because you are His. I know I need that reminder often.

By the way, Kimmel slept for all but 15 minutes of the flight and those 15 minutes she was the happiest, sweetest little girl you could ever ask for. I think we're all the best version of our selves when we are rested. Don't you?