Today I showed my oldest the half phase moon as we walked in from outside at dusk. We’d had a wonderful unseasonably warm day and as soon as nap time was over we headed outside and enjoyed until supper time. As we were heading in my oldest and I were admiring the sunset colors in the sky.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the moon. It was very bright for dusk. Not sure if my not quite 3 year old would be able to appreciate it, I took a chance and said, “Look, buddy!” pointing out the half moon. My efforts were not in vain. He said, “Wow!” (over and over) and proceeded to stare at the tiny half moon. Then he tried, in his best two year old language that is ever evolving, to communicate that he wanted me to bring the moon down to him. Over and over he asked. And over and over I explained that I wasn’t able to go up there and get it.
I’m sure there is some deep lesson here. Something about how we see things that God is doing as so small and want to hold it in our hand. We want to control it, but really its very big and beyond our understanding. (Job 42:3, Psalm 131: 1) Or maybe the lesson is about how my son believed I could bring him the moon and I should have the same child like faith with God. (Mark 10:15)
I ended up carrying him in so he could watch it while we went in. Maybe it was his devoted study of this new thing in his world that should be the focus. Perhaps the lesson to carry with us is that we should be so focused on our Lord that all other things seem to fade away. Cue the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”.
Or maybe it was just to be in the moment of wonder, to be present, to be in awe of the being a part of my son’s journey of discovery. Maybe my oldest’s moment with the moon was just that, a moment.
This last week has been challenging. I was sick; one of my kids was sick. It took a while to feel like I could be present again with my kids like I wanted. So I’m open to the lesson God has if there is one. But right now I’m most grateful for the gift of the moment.
Lady Worship Fingers 