Potty training, what more is there to say? This is a territory that is unexplained, unimaginable and quite simply, hazardous at times; at least for this 38 year old mother of two toddlers! Yesterday, I spent all day, every 20 minutes like clockwork in the bathroom begging my children to please cooperate with me. It is funny how a small, blue eyed, beautiful- blond haired, thigh size human being can bring you to your knees in a matter of seconds. I remember crying out to the Lord of Hosts to take me home immediately! Deliverance was being demanded on my part !! As most of you know, I am a drama queen and can make a mountain out of a mole hill. No wonder God had something to show me yesterday, right?
At any rate, after much perseverance and many, many changes of clothes; my precious 3- year old son finally made progress. The sight of yellow pee in the toilet was enough to bring tears of joy to my eyes and shouts of delight echoing off the small, confined walls, we call “The Throne Room!” It was like Heaven opened and the angels descended down with harps playing! I imagined the scene in the New Testament where John the Baptist, baptized Jesus. Then when Jesus came up out of the water, the dove descended down on Him. The voice of the Lord was then heard, “This is my son, whom I am well pleased!” Yes, this mama was well pleased with her son too!!!! Oh, but did I happen to mention to you that not 3 seconds before I was doubting my faith and telling the Lord, if He was truly the Deliverer and Savior then make something happen already, a burning bush, a bolt of lightning, something? -LOL!! And then, the miracle occurred! Why this is important? Well, simply because God knows our breaking point, our point of no-return and more than that, He cares! Yes, even about potty training! The smallest details of our lives matters to the one who truly sits on “The Throne!”
Hmm, what did I learn from this experience, other than begging and pleading with toddlers doesn’t work. Bribery doesn’t work. Pretend crying doesn’t work. Patience and prayer makes things happen. Now don’t get me wrong, I said a few choice words to God during my own tantrums of asking Him why He wasn’t working this thing out on my behalf. After all, I cried out, “Lord help me!” Isn’t that the secret? Call for the name of the Lord and you shall be saved? But what I learned was that help doesn’t always come in the way or TIME frame we want it to. Help for me yesterday was God allowing me to practice leaning on Him for something I didn’t want to do. I was being tested in the much needed area of perseverance, patience and faith. Hoping that by the end of the day, something and anything would come forth out of these events as gold. Funny thing is, is that when God is involved, He promises to work all things out for those that are called to His purposes. It will work out in the end but we must be willing to wait for it, work for it and trust God with it. Maybe to you, potty training is simply what it is, potty training. But to me, it was much more than a toilet and a toddler. I am grateful for the small, humble reminders in life that I am not always the one in control, but rather the one waiting for the One who is. Expectations towards others doesn’t work, expectation on God does!
Today, we start another day in “The Throne Room” and I have already changed my little ones several times. It isn’t even noon yet; but I am learning to not have any expectations, but to take it one small step at a time. The servant Joshua did not take the Promise Land in one day, but rather, one small faith step at a time, relying on God’s grace and direction the whole way. Right now, the promise land awaits me and it looks diaper free and $200 more a month in my pocket saved from buying them. In the mean time, I will fix my eyes on Jesus and the two beautiful children He entrusted me with to raise in love and patience. Now off to my duties, I hear my 20 minute timer calling! Duty calls……
