Every time the vacuum comes out, L. (2) rushes over to help me. He’ll drop his Legos, Trains, or Little People Noah’s Ark and instantly be at my side to participate in this very exciting venture of sucking up cat hair, paper scraps and crumbs. One little hand reaches up to grasp the vacuum handle, just under my hand.
Do I let him help? Of course I do.
Even though I know it’s going to turn a 10-minute task into a 30-minute task. Even though I bet I’ll miss some stuff in the corners or find I’m not able to steer around some furniture items with a toddler in tow. Even though I’ve stubbed my toe more than once on a bookshelf in my attempt to not step on L.’s tiny toes.
Even though…
Of course I still let him help.
I let him help because it’s prime mommy-and-son bonding time. He looks up at me with his sparkling blue eyes and says, “Hal BAH-boom!” (which, naturally, is L.-speak for ‘Help Vacuum!”). Who can resist that?
I let him help because it makes me smile to see him holding on tight to the vacuum right along with me. He may not be entirely sure what I’m doing but he knows he wants to be a part of it.
And I let him help because if I can raise a son or two who helps with the vacuuming, it increases my chances of having my future daughters-in-law rise up and call me blessed. And that’s always a good thing.
Of course I don’t need him to help me get things done, but I let him, time after time.
Last time L. “helped” with the vacuuming, I found myself thinking about the opportunities I have to “help” God.
God is going to accomplish His plans in this world, whether or not we cooperate with Him, but isn’t it amazing that He actually wants us to be part of it all?
God most definitely doesn’t need me to help Him get things done, but He lets me, time after time. In fact, He encourages it.
I’m sure that when I “help,” I slow things down. I’m sure that I pull one way, when his “grand vacuum” is going the other way. I’m sure that I make a mess of things far too often. Yet He invites me to be part of His plan in this world.
Even when I don’t know exactly what He’s doing, He wants me to come along, to hang on and be involved.
Casting Crowns has a song (In Me) that talks about doing what God calls us to do, while recognizing that we can’t do it without His strength and presence. A portion of the refrain plays in my head now, whenever L. grabs the vacuum handle:
How refreshing to know You don’t need me
How amazing to find that You want me
It is refreshing. And it is amazing.
I pray that I’ll go along with God’s plans, offering whatever contribution He enables me to, with the same willingness and enthusiasm that I see in L.’s eyes every time the vacuum makes an appearance.
It’s amazing what this little boy teaches me.
I love this post.
I always think it’s worth it to struggle through a year or two of non-helpful helping, in the hopes of training them in a new way.
The bonding and memories are priceless as well.
Also–you’re great at phonetical toddler speak! I “got” it.
I’ll listen to this song with new ears now. Thanks for the visual image.
Daily I am convicted, encouraged and inspired by my kids to walk the walk more strongly and deeply.
I needed this post today. I have been struggling to get out of a funk. I have been asking myself why I am home with Sammy during the 2nd half of the week. This is the reason, to create bonding moments like these. Like the ones that God allows me to be a part of when I help him. Thank you for writing this post it has really touched me.
Thoroughly loved this post!