Note to Self

If your 3-year-old son repeatedly tells you that his tummy hurts and he “needs to go to the hospital,” prepare yourself for his diaper’s contents to exceed its capacity . . . and his pants’ capacity. . .

Expect his Crocs to be a mess–inside and out–and just plan to clean the living room too . . .

The poor boy cried and screamed. . . It seems that his tummy really did hurt.

Micah, Carissa and I have (had) a stomach bug this week, which I guess is one reason I can be thankful the baby isn’t here yet!

On a brighter note, I put him in the bath, and in the middle of getting washed, he declared, “I need to sit on the potty and go poop right now!”

After what had just happened, I figured I would give him the benefit of the doubt. And what do you know? He did #1 and #2 in the potty and then said he was all done and wanted to get back in the bath!

I think there will be some potty training going on here in the next few months!

Just an hour or so later, he had another similar diaper (though not as. . . global in its impact). The poor poor child was really suffering with the diaper rash, and he just cried and cried when I wiped him.

He’s such a screamer–always so dramatic. I tried to calm him, telling him I would put cream on it, which only escalated things because he was sure that cream hurts too.

Finally all clean and dry, with fresh clothes, he slid off the changing table, still sobbing, so I called him to me and held him in the glider rocker for a few minutes.

Through his tears, he pulled his thumb out of his mouth, and between heaving sobs, he pleaded, “Mommy, can we pray about my diaper rash?” as if it were cancer or a severed limb.

I wiped his eyes, brimming with tears, and prayed that God would heal his rash, and I thanked Him that He is Jehovah Rophe, God our Healer, who cares about each of our needs whether big or small.

After that, Micah was all better. He hopped down from my lap and went off to play.

At first I was almost amused. But then I realized how often I’m all torn up–so much drama–about something that in all reality is rather insignificant in the scheme of life.

I thought of how, in the midst of Micah’s sobs, he wanted to ask God for help and then he walked away–leaving it there, with God.

I’m sure Micah thoughts aren’t really that developed yet. I doubt he can really even comprehend “leaving a burden” with God. But I was reminded that in my moments of drama, that’s exactly what I need to be doing. Calling out to God in faith. And then leaving it there with him, trusting that He cares and that He will answer in the way that is very best for me.