Soaking It All In!

As I write this post, I am drawing myself a bath in my jetted tub. I have even used my luxury bath products my twin brother and sister in law gave me for my birthday. It has been one of those days. My day did not start as it usually does. I didn't make time for my devotions and prayer time and that always throws me off.

After I get Troy and Carson on their way to work and school. I scurry around finishing up the things I should have done the night before for Bible Study today. Anyway, Ephraim wakes earlier than usual and I am now attending to his needs. We snuggle a bit and I take him to the bathroom. He pees no problem and then I encourage him to finish his duty. He says "I don't need to poop". Well, you can probably tell where this is heading. Five minutes before we should be heading out the door, he says "Mama, I pooped" and it wasn't in the toilet. So, I have to take time to clean up him and get him changed. Ugh. I was not in the best of moods. And now I was late. The lesson we were handing out to the mothers today at Bible Study was helpful hints on how to be an "on time" family. Well, that just went out the door for me. Pun intended.

Bible Study went well and I really enjoyed my time with the children. After class we have time to listen to the lecture. About 3/4 of the way through the lecture, the volunteer watching Ephraim comes to the door and says he has wet himself. Ugh. Now I am really in a funk. He gets so many things, but this potty training thing he has to be coached through. He doesn't initiate it. Soaked for the second time today, he was feeling pretty bad. I really tried to be reassuring while also trying to be firm about where the poop and pee are supposed to go... in the potty of course.

All the way home, he keeps saying he is sorry. I am trying to be calm and respond lovingly, but frustration got the best of me. I let the devil sneak right in and I lost my patience. When we get home, he asked if he could build with his train set, I said "Yes, please go downstairs to play". He said "Mama, please come with me". I said "Ephraim, please go downstairs, please listen to Mama and obey."

Later, I heard his little voice coming from his room. I was on my way to his room to let him know that I was not pleased that he had not obeyed me by going to the basement to play. As I approached his room, I heard him saying "Dear God, please help me obey my mommy and daddy. Please help me go to the potty when I am supposed to. Forgive me when I do not obey. in Jesus name, amen".

While of course, my heart melted. He has been soaking it all in. Everything we have been trying to teach him about God's love, His care, that God hears when we pray and that we can go to Him with all our needs. Oh my goodness. He was praying on his very own. He has prayed before when we all prayed as a family with meals or adding to the prayers at bed time, but he was initiating prayer on his own. I guess if he is going to initiate only one thing, I would prefer it be prayer over the potty. God is in charge. He has shown me time and again.

Now as for me, I am going to soak in the relaxing bath I have drawn and soak in the love and grace that God has shown me and pray that I can extend it to my family too.