Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

How our children help us see ourselves with their love

What an amazing thought, to know with certainty that the Lord will not forsake me. I see how abundantly He offers grace. It’s no wonder at all—it’s a certainty.

Recently, a friend of mine and myself got our children together for playtime at the park. They packed their toys and favorite games: football, action guys, nerf guns—and they found a solitary patch of wide open grass to park themselves and run. It was about two hours of delight and excitement.

I’m compelled to change my attitude about the pressures of motherhood when I see how a simple day at the park with such treasured toys can carry such joy and happiness. My son anticipated this day with his friend for weeks and counted days and hours until the moment arrived.

O, that I may have that anticipation to fellowship with God in prayer, at church, in the homeschool! To bring Him only my best and most treasured belongings—my talents and gifts, my resources and thoughts. It’s no wonder Christ says: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

It’s humbling to see how God uses our children to reflect ourselves, to observe what we lack, to grasp what matters most in this life. As the carries of this world become too heavy for a child’s shoulders, their squeals of delight gradually release the stone I’ve packed in my heart. In only a matter of time, I’ll begin to see that the face in the mirror isn’t mine anymore when I hear my children tell me they love me. And this is how God sees me when I am humbled as these.