Can You Come Out and Play?

When I was a kid, I remember looking outside to see if the weather was good for playing out of doors first thing in the morning.  If it was nice out, I'd quickly dress, throw on my sneakers, wolf down my breakfast and grab my bike out of the shed.  I'd hop on it and ride through the neighborhood to my friend's house.  I'd knock on the door and excitedly ask, "Can Timmy come out and play?"

I'd stand there on the steps waiting for him mom to call him to the door and then I'd ask, "Do you want to come out and play?"  If he said yes, we'd both hop on our bikes and go round up some more friends to play a game, go fishing, or ride around.  Sometimes, though, he'd say no because he was already playing or had something else to do.  As we got older, that seemed to happen more and more; our interests went in different directions and we just didn't do that any more.

It's funny; I can remember still the crushing disappointment when he wasn't home or was otherwise occupied and couldn't come out.

And yet, all too often I deliver that crushing blow in my own home.

"Mommy, can you play with me?"

"Mommy, will you color with me?"

"Mommy, watch!"

"Mommy, want to dance?"

"Mommy, let's go for a walk!"

And my replies?

"Sorry, honey, Mommy has to finish cleaning."

"Okay, sweetie, I'll take a quick break.  I've only got a few minutes though."

"Maybe in a little bit; I'm trying to finish up."

"I can't right now; I need to wash the dishes."

"Oh, baby, I'd love to but the laundry is backed up and I have to get to it."

"How about we do that tomorrow?"

About three months ago, God really convicted me about this trend and reminded me how I felt, anxiously hopping from one foot to the other and hoping my friend wanted to come out and play.  He showed me that my children felt that same way.  And then He took it a step deeper and showed me what they were really asking:

"Mommy, will you spend time with me?"

"Mommy, am I a priority in your life?"

"Mommy, I feel insecure right now; will you spend some time affirming your love for me?"

"Mommy, I need a friend.  Will you like me?"

"Mommy, am I special?"

"Mommy, do you enjoy being my mommy?"

"Mommy, will you invest your time in my life or are you just passing time until I grow up?"

"Mommy, will you lay a foundation in my life now 

so that when things get tougher we'll have something to stand on?"

Today we visited a church that was having a baby dedication.  The pastor's wife gave the mom a toy as a souvenir for the little one, but also as a reminder to the mom to play with her baby because everything else in life can wait, but your child won't stop growing up just because you're busy.  What a lovely reminder!

Today I want to play with my kids.  I want my actions to show them that I enjoy them; I like being with them. Not only do I love them beyond belief, but I love being with them!  Not only do I homeschool them and keep our home for them, but I spend time with them.  I want to love them like my Heavenly Father loves me ... He is never too busy to listen to me, never to overwhelmed by all that He has to concern Himself with to reassure lil ole me, and never too important to lay down His life for this selfish child of His.