“I want a loose toof!” My two-year-old stood beside the bathroom sink and watched her big sister smile at the mirror, revealing a fresh gap of missing tooth.
“You’ll get one when you’re older, sweetheart. I promise.” I patted my toddler’s head and squeezed a blob of fruity training paste onto her toothbrush. “Right now you’re still growing your baby teeth.”
“But I want a dollar, too! Under my pillow! Please, Momma?”
“Sorry,” my five-year-old chirped, “but you have to wait until you’re a big girl in kindergarten.”
“Hmmpf!” My toddler crossed her arms and sunk her chin into her chest.
It’s tough being little.
My younger daughter looks up to her big sister. She wants to be like her. They play with the same toys, eat the same food, hold to the same bedtimes and wear matching outfits. In my toddler’s mind, she and her sister are equals.
Except they’re not, really. Of course their dad and I love them both equally, and we treat them with the same standards of affection and discipline. But certain privileges come with age.
Five-year-olds go to their classmates’ birthday parties. Two-year-olds stay home.
Five-year-olds whiz down the big slide at swimming lessons. Two-year-olds sit on Mom’s lap and watch.
Five-year-olds cut and paste crafts to their heart’s delight. Two-year-olds aren’t allowed to use the scissors without close supervision.
Such cruel restrictions! And the deprived toddler argues—Me, too! Me, too! I want that, too! Why can’t I have it? I don’t understand!
Well, now. That sounds familiar. I’ve whined those words a few times before—to God.
I want that promotion. Give it to me, please?
I want another baby. Why is this taking so long?
I want to write a book. She gets to! Why can’t I?
I pray. I plead. I grumble and dream. But sometimes God answers—wait.
Not yet, my child.
You’re not ready.
You’re still growing and maturing.
I’m equipping you to handle what you’re asking for—on my timeframe.
Trust me.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time,” (1 Peter 5:6).
“Look, Momma!” My toddler clutched her bottom front teeth between two fingers, squishing her nose with a fist full of knuckles. “I can pull my toof, too!”
“Oh, sweetie, don’t do that.” I steered her hand away from her mouth. “Your tooth won’t budge. You might hurt yourself.”
Her lips drooped and she looked up at me with glossy eyes. I cupped her cheek in my palm and grinned.
“Your teeth are beautiful just the way they are. You’ll get bigger soon enough. For now, just enjoy being two.”
Words of wisdom for my own eager heart.
Yours, too? Are you praying to grow up too fast? Let’s stop yanking at the root. Rest confident that God will lift us up in his perfect timing.
Until then, keep smiling—with every toof you’ve got.
If this post encouraged you, please pass it on. You might also like When You Want What They Have, When God Doesn’t Give You What You Ask For, and How My Walk of Faith Is Like a Stroller Ride.
Linking up with: The Better Mom, Playdates With God, The Mom Initiative, Titus 2sdays, Grace at Home, and Things I Can’t Say.
I can totally relate! I’m decades older but still not “old enough” in some areas of my life and I impatiently whine to God about my misery. 🙂 So you’ve given me some food for thought on waiting on God. His timing is always best. Beautiful post, Becky, as always!
Not decades, for sure, Beth… 🙂 I wonder if we ever feel grown up. Or do we always chase after the next stage? Thankfully God is in charge of them all!
Waiting is so hard!
I feel the same way about my younger little guy. I feel for him when he can’t do everything his brother does. Next time I feel those pangs, I’ll think about it a little differently – thanks for this post!
Don’t you just want to tell them – it’s good to be little! Enjoy it while it lasts! There are days when my big girl wishes she could stay home to play instead of going to school. If only her little sister understood that. 🙂
Oh, Becky, you’ve spoken truth to my soul today– I spent New Year’s Eve telling God all the things I was sick of WAITING FOR! And He held me while I cried and assured me that it would be worth the wait, encouraged me to savor right NOW. Love how you’ve echoed his murmurs in this post. ALWAYS a blessing to be here. And that book you want to write? It will happen NO DOUBT- you are gifted, girl. And I will be excited to buy a copy when God finally says YES to that dream! My Maggie wants to lose teeth, too. Everything makes them “wiggly”. It’s hard to be the baby of 5! 🙂 Blessings on your new year, friend. (My post for Wed is already written and it’s SO SIMILAR to this one- makes me smile. I think we could be best friends if you just lived across the street 🙂
Oh you always make me smile, Alicia! I love to know you are the kind of gal who pours her heart out to God. He hears me whine on a regular basis. You’re right – I think we would be great friends! Want to move to Wisconsin? I can’t wait to read that post on Wednesday.
This is a beautiful post! Thank you!
Thank you for reading each week, Jedidja!
I just LOVE the lessons God teaches us out of the mouths (no pun intended) of babes. 🙂 I’m especially enjoying those from your baby girls. They are so precious, and I love reading of the lessons and revelation the Lord gives you through watching their little lives. It’s often so amazing to see just how those lessons relate to us BIG people just as much if not more than the little ones. Thank you for sharing, Becky!
Ha – the toothless mouths of babes, indeed! Nothing has shaped me and taught me more about the Christian life than being a mother, it’s true. The more I study my children, the more I realize I am like them in many ways. Do we ever really grow up?
Your posts always help me exactly where I am at in motherhood. You are so right- in God’s perfect timing. Bless you, Becky!
We’re in it together, Ashley! I hope all is well with your family this week.
Back again- just wanted to let you know that your comment at the Overflow yesterday was just what I needed- you captured the paradox of motherhood perfectly in your wise words. Always blessed by you, friend.
I’ve been thinking about you, my fellow mommy heart.
This was such a blessing, in so many ways. It not only reminded me of my need for patience, to wait on God, but also to realize that perhaps some things I *stopped* waiting for and just forgot about entirely (long ago), God may have by now prepared me to pick up again and do! hm. Is that tooth wiggling?
(And this was such a warm, endearing picture of childhood and momhood!)
Oh, Sylvia, I love that thought – maybe God brings old dreams to life again long after we’ve forgotten them. Thank you for sharing!
What a nice reminder that sometimes we just have to wait for those things that we “want.” Thank you!
Thanks for reading, Steph!
Ah, yes, Becky. Words of wisdom for my own eager heart. I love your stories about your littles. They sure do take me back…
I’m trying to capture these little people before they grow up… it’s happening so fast.
Such great perspective. I have many moments of “SHE gets to- why can’t *I*?”
I’m thinking we all do, Shell!
This was fantastic. I have a 2 year old too and she wants to do everything her 7 year old brother does. She’s similar to her father, while my laid back son is similar to me. I’ve learned very early to count my blessings and just be in the moment God’s given us. My Husband is still learning this lesson and I have no problem helping him be in the moment, just like my son does with his sister.
Wonderful post! For me, I need the constant reminder that it is God’s timeframe for my life, not mine’s when I think of the dreams I have that have not been accomplished especially when it comes to my writing and career. I hear my sons go through that with each other – “why can’t I do it, just like him?” not realizing how often I’m asking God the same thing.
Thank you for the reminder.
Coming to you via Things I Can’t Say…
Hi, great post. I found you through the blog hop. Please stop by and say hi when you get a chance. .Be sure and check out my new Blog Hop that started. It’s Weekly Goals Link Up. It’s a great way to stay on track. Have a great day. 🙂 Now following you. Here’s the link for it if you would like to check it out.
http://lenettacarnes.blogspot.com/2013/01/weekly-goals-linkup-1.html Lenetta