My Children, the Squirrels

Today I vacuumed out our van.  It took me almost an hour…and it’s just a minivan.  Part of the reason (actually, most of the reason) it took that long is because my children had squirreled away books, left over snacks, socks and shoes in the back seat.  It’s as though they wanted to be prepared for spending the rest of the fall in the van.  The most amazing part to me is that I vacuumed up more than 15 walnut/acorn/tree nuts.  I’m pretty sure that there is another one hiding away somewhere, too.

Of course, I am somewhat like my children.  I like to be prepared.  I keep extra socks and shoes for my two oldest in the van in case they decide to leave the house without footwear (which has happened more than once).  I also have diapers and wipes stored away, lest we accidentally forget to stock the diaper bag/backpack.

Speaking of our diaper bag, you should see what I’ve put in there!  Diapers, wipes, extra outfits for four children, books, toys, extra snacks, pens and pencils.  And then there’s my stuff.  Since I have to tote a backpack, I’ve decided to stop carrying a purse.  So, all the things that once resided in my purse also are crammed into the backpack.

While it is good to be prepared, I had a revelation as I was vacuuming.  In Bible class on Sunday, one of our friends reminded us that we should be squirrelling away more than just things.  He encouraged us to keep Bible passages at our fingertips.  Or, more specifically, at the tip of our memories.  And, just knowing a verse, without the reference, wasn’t enough for him.  He pointed out that we need to be able to open our Bibles and show those references to the people we come in contact with.

And so, for the first time in much, much too long, I’ve set about doing just that: squirrelling away treasures from the Bible.  I don’t have the fancy smart phone app that our friend suggested using (mostly because I don’t have a smart phone).  But, I do have a Bible and time to repeat a verse again and again.  So here it is:  Psalm 50:15—Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me.

I hope you have some time to start doing some squirrelling of your own.  Maybe you can cheat (like I did) and learn your kids’ memory passages with them.  Or, maybe you have a part of the Bible you want to know better.  But, there’s nothing better than to have God’s word hidden away in your heart and memory.

Welcome!

Today I toted three kids to the doctor, and the appointment wasn’t actually for any of them.  It was for me.  I was following up with my “family” doctor about my post-partum depression.  I use the word “family” haltingly, though, and here’s why.

As we were not taken back to the room where we would be seeing the doctor until half an hour after our scheduled appointment time, the two little boys (my one-year-old and the 6 month-old I baby sit) were getting quite restless.  I held the youngest as I pushed the double stroller with my daughter and son into the room.  The nurse was polite and asked if I needed help and smiled at the kids as she ran through the reasons I was there.  I mentioned the follow-up and that I am currently pregnant again.  She smiled and went to get the doctor.

As the doctor walked in, she just looked at me holding a baby, singing to all three, and shook her head in surprise and disbelief.  “Didn’t we talk about birth control?” she asked.  “You have two in diapers.”

I pointed out that only one of mine is currently in diapers, that I’ve always had two in diapers when a new baby comes around, and that my two oldest children will be in school full time next year.  But, she interrupted me.

“What are you and your husband going to do?  Four is enough.  Surgery for him or you?”

I assured her that we would talk about it, too shocked at the chastising I was receiving to offer any other protests.

Welcome to the world, my new little one.

See, today, many people look on family as a burden, not a blessing.  They assume that parents would much rather selfishly spend their money on toys to make their lives happier instead of providing for future generations.  They look at parents with pity instead of encouraging them to do their best to raise loving children.

But, my new little one, you don’t need to worry.  It’s not that your dad and I love you so much already, that we’ll do the best we can to take care of you, that we’ll raise you to be a loving and loved child.  Those are true.  But, my baby, even more wonderful is that you have a heavenly Father who is looking after you at all times.  He is the one who decided the time was right to bring you into our family (even if your dad and I were VERY surprised).  He is the one who holds you in His hand constantly, keeping you safe.  And He is the one who wants you to be a part of His heavenly kingdom one day.

To give my doctor the benefit of the doubt, perhaps she was just looking out for my mental health.  I wish she had taken the time, though, to ask about the joy I have in caring for my family and the privilege of caring for another mommy’s precious little boy.  I wish she had inquired as to the welfare of my children.  I wish, at the very least, she had offered me congratulations.

Tonight, I’ll include her in my prayers.  I pray that God gives her the opportunity to see the blessing that family can be.  I pray that she recognize it as a gift from Him.  I pray that she learn to know Jesus as her Savior.

I’ll pray for you, too, Baby.  I pray that God blesses you your whole life with a love for him that will show itself in many ways.  And, I pray that God blesses you with a family of your own one day to love and care for, just as he has given me the blessing of a wonderful and very full family.