To you, this might just be a silly, funny snapshot of my toddler doing typical toddler things-chaos, laughter and all. But for me, this picture is so much more than that. It’s a humbling reminder, one I didn’t expect, that caught me completely off guard.
You see, I’m in a stage of life right now where I’m not even sure what day it is. From juggling keeping up the house and serving in the church, Each day feels like a whirlwind-rushing from one place to another, , and doing all the things that I believe the Lord has called our family to do. Most mornings, if we even make it out the door,) is to simply try to get out the door in one piece, which means slipping on my shoes, grabbing my fanny pack (my life saver, my Mary Poppins bag of everything) and heading out.
But as I was doing my typical dinner rush I turned around to see my toddler doing something I do everyday. In the midst of the rush I was reminded -unexpectedly- that my children are always watching me. They see everything, even the smallest, seemingly insignificant moments. And in that instant, I asked myself: What do they see when they watch me?
What are my kids going to say about me when they grow up? Will they talk about how much I loved them, how patient I was, or how I always had a smile-even on the hardest days? Or will they remember me as distracted, overwhelmed, and always in a hurry?
The weight of those questions hit me harder than I expected. It was overwhelming at first, but also humbling. As I stood there with my spatula in hand, I couldn’t help but wonder:Who do I want them to see in me? What are the key traits I hope they’ll recognize in me as they grow up-patience, love, grace, faith?
At that moment, I set down my spatula, walked over to my toddler, and gave him a big hug. And yes, I cried. Sometimes, the Lord speaks to us in the smallest ways, though the quiet moments of our daily lives. In a rush to get things done, he used that simple act of my son trying to put on a fanny pack to remind me of my greater purpose-not just as a mother, but as a role model for my children.
Life can feel like a blur, especially when you’re balancing so many things at once. But it’s in these everyday moments that we have the chance to lead by example. And today, I was reminded that the Lord is with us even in the smallest, most routine acts-guiding us, whispering reminders to love deeply, lead humbly, and be present.
As I wiped away my tears and embraced the messy, beautiful reality of motherhood, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the lesson in something as simple as a fanny pack
Journal questions
- what does it mean to “lead by example” in the chaos of everyday life?
-In what ways does being “ always in a hurry” affect not only our relationship with our children but also our relationship with ourselves and God?
-Do you think there’s room for grace in how we view success as parents, especially when things don’t go as planned?
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