My four year old is potty-trained, but you know because he's four I'm still pretty intimately involved in the process. I also have an infant who poops all the stinkin' time! So the two and half year old is not training yet. Please don't judge me. I have enough Mommy guilt of my own. His older brother just flipped the switch around three (after a few unsuccessful months of "trying.") So this time I'm avoiding all the accidents and head ache and just biding my time. No, I don't know if that's best, but it is what makes sense for us.
Here's why I know that. You see not long ago I was getting ready to put this same two-year old down for his afternoon nap. Yeah, afternoon nap, as in well after noon. Let's just say like 2:00 pm. Anyway, it was about this time that I realized this sweet, happy, middle child was still wearing his diaper from the night before! (Yes, we are contributing to his therapy fund now.) I am appalled. I am embarrassed, and I am a repeat offender. You see, it wasn't the first time this had happened. Clearly, I'm not with it enough to add potty training to my list of daily responsibilities.
Now just in case you don't think I'm crazy enough let me let you in on my relationship with God. I talk to God about all kinds of things...even poop. Really, I worry that I'm not being attentive enough to my middle son. So I thought I'd chat it up with God about potty training.
"Should I just make the commitment, make the switch and go for it? Cause that could be a lot of trouble."
He lets me go on and on about it for a few minutes. When I take a rare breather I realize He doesn't really weigh in on the whole potty training issue. Nope. That would have been too easy. Instead He prompted me to apply this potty training philosophy to how I deal with sin in my life. Wait for it. There really is a correlation.
You see, as it pertains to most of the sin in my life, I'm kind of waiting to flip the switch. It would appear that I think that one day I'll just wake up mature enough to stop having these embarrassing, um, "accidents." No to mention the convenient truth that I like spending a lot of time on the internet. I really do like being right which means some unfortunate arguments with my beloved. And listen, I'm not proud of it, but apparently I really do like to gossip as much as the next gal. I've gotten pretty comfortable with my stuff.
Not to mention that practicing holiness would require work. And I am likely to have a few embarrassing moments along the way. Which sounds good until God reminds me that while I wait to "flip the switch" I am sitting in my own filth. And friends, that's not good for anybody. I've got some growing up to do, and I've been putting it off for too long.
So how about you? Are you sitting in something? Are you waiting to tackle the poop in your spiritual life? Let's do it together. Sure we might mess up, but I don't really want to be a thirty-one year-old toddler. You?
18 comments:
LOVE this post! I am so excited that you started back up...you are one of the reasons I started blogging. I love your stories of young motherhood, but mostly your LOVE for the Lord...it really shines through! Thanks for sharing!
Janie
Whitney, I miss you so much!! I know exactly how you feel with my babies having been born so close together. It always seems like my middle son gets the short end of the stick! :) But you know what, even at the tender age of 4 it is SO obvious to me that even though sometimes I forget his needs, God never does. Of my three children, he is the one who talks the most about God and his prayers are not to be believed. About 6 months ago as I was tucking him into bed, he said, "Mommy, what does it mean to love the Lord your God with all your heart?" I couldn't believe my ears! So meditate on Galatians 6:9and do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up. Sending hugs to you! :)
Hi there Whitney,
Several months ago I visited my sweet daughter in law (who has a 7 yr. old, 4 yr. old, 2 yr. old, and a 9 month old).
With 2 kids in diapers, and all 4 of them running all OVER the place, I can totally relate to this post! LOL
Practicing holiness is a full-time job for ALL of us. Hugs and blessings to you!
Priceless but true for all of us, eh.
Whitney I love your "voice". I'm over 20 years older than you, but your writing brings back lots of fond memories.And no matter what stage of life we are in, your points are very well taken. I have been struggling lately with the harsh responses and lack of patience, and I think it's because of my growing insecurity about losing my role as a mother -- my daughter will finish her graduate degree and marry in June and leave home, and my son will get his degree and probably move as well. I LOVE being a mother, so it's a really scary time for me and, you guessed it, my honey of 32 years gets the brunt of my raw emotions. Your blog has inspired me to try harder to be the kind of woman God wants me to be. Thanks, Cutie! Michelle
Oh I loved this devotional. As a daycare provider and one that is in the process of potty training three,,ummm should I add myself in that equation also? yes,,,this really touched my spirit and I thank God for His leading me here this morning. Now, I guess it's time to change my diaper!!
Love your devo today and your post here. I have never liked our Savior likened to a worm, but the passage from Calvary Road quieted my heart with His love and truth. Thank you.
Brokenness...what a beautiful and challenging posture of the heart. Our Gather & Grow Bible Study is currently studying Nancy Leigh DeMoss' "Brokenness". Amazing.
His sweetest blessings to you Whitney!
Now I am going to His throne room to ask Him to search my heart and to reveal any "stinky" in which I may be stuck!
Sharon
Hi Whitney, I popped over from the devotional from P31 today. What a word from the Lord you delivered to my heart this morning! We're crashing with my in-laws for a couple of months before we move out of town (military move) and my mother-in-law is driving me crazy. My sweet husband's ears have been warm lately with the rantings of my heart. Thanks for speaking God's truth into my emotionally overwhelmed and prideful relationship with her.
Sounds like the calvary road is for me... who is the author?
There are so many times that I feel as if I am "right" one, that what I say and do is it... the end of the line stops with "me". All too often the Lord ever so gently reminds me that it's not about me! Here's the funny thing, I say "it's not about you, you aren't the only one in the family" a lot to my children. I want to remind them that we need to constantly put others before ourselves, to think of others before ourselves... even when it comes to playing with a toy sometimes.
Lately, I am finding that I am being too proud. I had been praying for the Lord to uncover my sins so that I might confess them to HIM... at first nothing.... as I continued to pursue Him... and ultimately taking time to be still and quiet... it was then HE gently said... Pride my precious daughter... pride.
This truly has been hard for me to swallow. to say that I am prideful makes me shiver in my boots. It makes me feel so low and dirty. That I am, but the Lord looks past the dirt and grim and nastiness of my sin because HE has already died for them and redeemed me. His blood covers it all and I am seen as pure before the Lord. WOW... that still gets me when I think about it. Doesn't mean we can go on doing whatever we want to ... we must confess our sins before HIM... but HE has already won the victory for us... He has already forgiven us our sins. Thank you Jesus.
Thanks for your realness today, it has touched my life and has reminded me... it's not about me... but about the precious name of JESUS!
Please let me know who the author is of Calvary Road... I'd love to get a copy of it.
God Bless,
christy
ps. I too am 31... with a 3 year old and a 2 year old. MY three year old is potty trained. But as you said about your 4 year old... you are still very involved with him... I am still very involved with my daughter. So with my 2 year old... I am waiting until he potty trains himself! :) You are not alone... it's so hard! Don't feel guilty... I think it's so important to take their lead when it comes to potty time. otherwise it becomes tiring, maddening, and then it just doesn't end up happening! We can save ourselves the hardness by just taking their lead because they will eventually potty train... we won't have teens that are in diapers! :) HA HA! Man would that be a sight!
This devotional also spoke deeply to my heart, so much so that I had to look at the author. And it follows that I navigated here to your blog.
Thanks for a message that is perfectly timely for my life. God used you to bring me an important lesson. Thank you, and God bless you, dear sister.
Whitney,
I came over from the P31 devotion today. Hope all is well with you. I really, really, really, needed to read those words today. I am broken today and it's sad to say that its times like these that I draw so close to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is my strength. Thank you for such sweet honesty and obedience to God. This too shall pass. By the way I raised 3 boys too!! I survived. My oldest is 34 and much the source of my brokeness today. But my God loves him even more than I do and He has a plan for him. I trust Him.
Love in Christ,
Dana
This is awesome. I feel like I am so in the same boat with you. I have 3 boys. 6, 3 and 1. I tell myself daily, "You know I should really work with him to use the bathroom!" and like you convince myself otherwise. I also homeschool the oldest 2 and my husband travels ministering in churches all over the country singing, so a lot of times I am single mom. We are so thankful for the blessing from God, but it is so easy to put a bandaide on our issues and continue in our everyday life. Thank you for being "real!"
Love the post today....
My pediatrician wanted me to start potty training at 18 months...I thought are you crazy?? He can't even talk (three older brothers doing all the talking), how in the world am I gonna potty train him.
Besides his three older brothers all trained around 3 when their light went on too! So, why rush it.
Good parallel to the spiritual realm too!
Blessings enjoyed the read!
I just love the correlation. Stumbled on your blog after reading the Proverbs 31 Ministries devotional for the day. I should be working but needed a little spiritual pick-me-up and now I have something to think about for the rest of the work day. Thank you!
Don't feel guilty about the potty training! Each child learns when they are ready. My son was much older when he learned. Don't be so hard on yourself!
Hello! I am in the same proverbial boat as you - 32 years old, mom of 4 beautiful, feisty little girls, and the youngest is 2 1/2 & sort of potty training. But she's not too interested. So I am frustrated, but also frustrated with the others' "kid tricks", & my ugly, prideful, selfish, snakelike attitude rears its head too often. We are not alone, Sister! Thanks for your openness, and the gentle prodding to be more worm-like than snake-like. I needed to hear it!!
~Alicia in NC
I just read your P31 devotion about remaining with the Lord throughout the day bc caring for the children doesn't allow for a chunk of alone time with Him...well, I have to share with you how I learned the same lesson. I could relate with every single sentence of your devotion! I'm raising four children. The third was 2 when we adopted his sister who's only 13 months younger. That's when my desert got really dry... I remember tearfully BEGGING God to help me get some time alone with Him. And first of all, He reminded me that He delights to see His children DESIRING HIM and SEEKING HIM with all their hearts. But then He reminded me that we're called to be hearers AND doers of the Word. I'd come to view intimacy with Him as long, uninterrupted, powerful times in the Word and in prayer. But that's only the beginning...we must then get up out of the prayer closet and put our faith into action. To further illustrate - He took me to the passages in the Gospels in which Jesus clarified who His sisters/mother/brothers are: those who hear His commands and PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE!! And He says the same in Jn. 15 about who His friends are: it's those who obey His commands. Those in closest intimacy with Him (i.e. family and friends) are those who spend their time doing what He's taught them. Isn't that amazing! He is Immanuel! He is with us throughout every second of every day! Thank you for sharing your struggles and being so transparent. God is using you.
Tina
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