My Takeaway from Tea Time

Yesterday was the Kindergarten Tea.  Kenny dressed up (with some coaxing), and played the part of the perfect gentlemen.  He took me by the hand when I entered his classroom and escorted me to his chair where he presented me with treasures created by his own hands.  One of the treasures was a book (and by book I mean a bunch of papers stapled together).  Each page asked a different question about his mother, and on each page he wrote a sentence in response with a picture to go with it.  I glanced at the mom seated beside us.  Her book was detailed, neat, and filled with color.  Kenny’s book was awash in #2 pencil, his handwriting a wreck, pictures were penciled stick figures to represent him and I.  But it was the most thoughtful and beautiful piece of work he’s ever produced, so I pushed comparison aside and fought back tears as he read me each page.  

It was heartwarming and hysterical to see myself through a six-year-old’s eyes.  He loves me because I cook, play, and lay with him at night.  He thinks my way to relax is to sit on the sofa and watch the news.  He wishes he could buy me a pot (very thoughtful since my favorite thing to do is cook!)  It was a sweet and rare 45 minutes of one-on-one time with my firstborn.  I left the tea with a huge smile on my face and a heart overflowing.  But I also felt convicted to be more transparent with my boys about the things I really enjoy.  They need to know that mommy likes pedicures and reading books without pictures and watching Downton Abbey.  I don’t want them growing up knowing only my (stellar!?) mom attributes.

And as often happens when I have any amount of time alone…this line of thinking expanded to the spiritual realm.  How many years of my life did I look at God through the type of narrow lens that my son currently sees me?  I kept Him in my “Sunday box” and didn’t realize all that I was missing by not allowing Him into every area of my life.  My life has become rich and abundant since letting Got out of the box.  I experience Him in the most unexpected places and ways, and much of the time through interactions with people.  

What an amazing day…..tea with my favorite six-year-old and the realization that just as I am a multi-faceted woman, God is a multi-faceted God….with every facet more good and loving than the last.