Can I???

All day long I am asked a million questions by two babies. Can I do this? Why? What's for snack? Why? Can I watch TV? Why? How do you spell....? Why? Where did the dinosaurs go? Why? You get the picture! A favorite question around here is Can I help? Now inevitably I start to say NO. Because whatever the task I can do it faster and neater all by myself! Sometimes I do say No but I am trying to say yes more and more.

There is such joy in their faces when they realize they will get to help me make a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich or mix the pancake batter or load the washing machine. Something so simple that I can do all by myself- better by myself- becomes something much more when I allow or invite my children to help. It becomes not about the task but about my child. I learn about them, they learn about me. I watch them as they learn and master new skills.  They become apart of my world in a new way at that moment and most of all we are together. Even the messiest of these hands on moments are worth it to me and to them.

As I groggily prayed on the phone this morning I saw this very image playing out in front of me. Except this time I was the child and the parent was Father God. God doesn't NEED us but He loves us and allows us, His kids, to come along side of Him and get our hands on experiences. He knows that it would be faster and cleaner if He did it alone but is willing to set that aside to allow us the chance to "help". I am messy and don't always wait to hear what the next step is before I get moving but He continues to allow me a chance. He is such a loving Father who not only enjoys spending time with me and watching me grow but also enjoys the process- maybe even more than the outcome.

How good and loving is our Father in Heaven!