You and your child—you are HIS children

I dropped him off and watched his face try not to break a little as he found his footing on the wood chips and gripped his hands into the bench. We have been working REALLY hard on transitions and I felt SO proud watching him coach his own spirit and heart that this was a great thing! He wasn’t being “left”; he was getting to experience!
As he recalibrated, I watched from afar as he edged himself down to the last part of the bench and started to mosey around. Before he could take three steps, someone ran smack into him and he fell over. I could tell he wasn’t hurt but taken back, both from the surprise of it and falling. He got up, took some more steps + fell again; his little legs shaking + working hard. As he postured himself to get up again, he found a new fortitude in his body and made his way to the jungle gym slides. One of his teachers quickly aided him + he climbed up as all the kids climbed around him. And he went down that slide again + again.
My heart sang.

I could feel the Lord reminding me, “Sometimes “saving” them is more about your discomfort; I am watching him. If you would’ve picked him up, he wouldn’t realize he was capable of standing back up and experiencing THIS joy! I’m proud of you and him.”

It was the smallest instance and I realize it wasn’t a big deal—it’s called toddlers and playgrounds and everyday happenings. Sometimes, my mama heart wants to make sure that Sledge’s special needs don’t make him feel less than or left out…but often, I realize I will cause that if I don’t allow him to respond with resilience to people + particulars before I try to intervene.
He was graced for this journey and so am I.
Sometimes, we call it saving them but was it really to save us? So that we didn’t have to watch or deal with something that felt hard?

I think about this with heartbreak + disappointment…rejection from friends or schools or sporting teams…job changes or transitions that don’t turn out like expected…and even the wounds and the wearing down that results from being parented by imperfect people and a world that can be so loud.
All of it.

Release.
Your child + YOU are both His.
If He loves them more than you, how safe are they? 🤍