Some are not.
You would think that deciding what to have for lunch would be easy. Not really. You have to think about what you have on hand...what needs to be used up...what's healthy...what sounds good to you...what sounds good to the others you're feeding.
But when you have little ones, on top of all of that, you have to ask yourself, "How messy will it be?"
But when you have little ones, on top of all of that, you have to ask yourself, "How messy will it be?"
Not long ago, I didn't consider that last question long enough. (OK, I often don't consider that question long enough...this instance is just an example...)
Lunch with the kiddos. Time to use up leftovers. They both loved the chili we had last night. Why not?
Ten minutes later, I texted a picture of Moses to some of my family members: red-orange chili "juice" smeared all over his face and hands. My sister-in-law, who has a baby just Moses's age, texted back something along the lines of how brave I was to let Moses have at a bowl of chili.
I'm not sure if "brave" would be the best word to describe this mommy. No, setting a bowl of chili in front of Moses and letting him feed himself with bare hands and a spoon that to him is more of a play-thing than a utensil...that was more about trying to snatch a few minutes to scarf down a little food myself. Any time saved, however, I quickly realized would be lost, as the poor child, chili all over face and hands and head and clothes and toes, would need a bath immediately after lunch.
Toward the end of the meal, I realized another problem with my decision. My sweet little guy, much too close to his afternoon nap time, began to rub his eyes...and I don't need to elaborate on what happens when chili powder meets baby eyes.
The moral of the story:
Don't let fifteen-month-old little boys feed themselves chili.
Another troublesome meal is pancakes. I know I ought not to expect much from my little guys when I myself have a hard enough time with it. Syrup somehow has a way of launching itself from the business end of the fork to the handle end...and from there, transferring to your fingers...and then the table...and your cup...and who knows where else. Napkins really aren't much help. All they do is threaten to plaster little sticky torn pieces of themselves onto your fork and your fingers. The only way to deal with the stickiness, really, is to thoroughly lick your fingers...and your fork...and perhaps even that stray piece of your hair that managed to drape across your last bite...
All this is why I tried to keep my little guys content for as long as possible with dry pancakes and a side of fruit. I groaned inwardly when first CJ, then Moses, were first introduced to that sweet warm stickiness (by their daddy, of course), because I knew that once they had their first taste, there was no going back.
There wasn't.
Oh, well. Wet wipes galore and extra laundry and an early bath time every now and then...I guess it's worth the joy and excitement on their faces when they see me pull out the skillet, pancake mix, and syrup.
Often when I eat pancakes, a phrase of Romans 5:5 comes to mind: "...the love of God has been poured out in our hearts..."
Long ago--I have no idea when or where or who--someone elaborated on this verse, and likened the "poured out" to pouring glistening, warm, sticky syrup onto a plate of pancakes, generously, until the pancakes fairly swim in it.
I like that analogy...especially when I think of the way syrup has a way of getting itself all over anything. Because isn't that how love ought to be?
In John 13:34, our loving Savior commanded us, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
Our God has poured--lavished--His love upon us, fairly smothering us in it! But we aren't meant to just sit back and enjoy that love all to ourselves. No, we are to pass on that love. It's a love to be shared...with everyone. Always. Generously. Freely.
Just like syrup never really stays on our plates and forks...just like it has a way of getting all over anything...
Maybe our love should be a little more like syrup.
Maybe instead of carefully licking our fingers clean, we should plunge our bare hands into our syrupy plates and then smear that sweet glistening goodness all over the place...(but don't tell my boys I said that!)
Maybe we should be a little "messier" with our love...a little less reserved...a little less careful...
To love or not to love...
That should be an easy decision.
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all..."
I Thessalonians 3:12
