Toys or Mom

I have a house FULL of toys.  My kids have grandparents who live far away and like to make up for what they lack in frequency of visits by frequency of packages.  My kids have their favorite toys and some things will occupy them for quite a while as they get their imaginations involved.  But there are always many moments in a day where I find a child on my hip, a child tugging on my shirt, and a child calling me from the other room.  Those are the moments I say, “We have a house full of toys- why is everybody right here?!”

I have learned that as much as my kids love their toys, they love me more.  What they want more than anything else is just to have my attention.  And especially to have it all to themselves- an unusual feat in a family with kids ages 4, 2, and 1.  The toys meant to distract, entertain, or educate them are never going to fill the need in their hearts for the love, attention and interaction they crave with their parents.

So as a mom I’ve learned when they’re tugging on my shirt, instead of looking down, I just sit down.  Right there, wherever it may be.  I get down on their level, give them a hug, address whatever pressing concerns are on their heart and then they usually feel ready to go back and face their busy little lives.

I may not have many “toys”, but there sure are a lot of things in my life clamoring for my attention.  But nothing else can fill the need in my heart for God.  I hope He doesn’t mind too much when He finds me tugging on His shirt.