what?

(originally posted 5/31/09)

If you're the mother of toddlers, or have ever been the mother of a toddler, then you will know what I'm talking about when I say this...sometimes you have one of those days where you think to yourself "If I hear someone say 'mama' one more time I am going to lock myself in the bathroom!!" My boys call out for me a lot. Everyday, from about 6:30AM to about 8:30 or 9:00PM I hear "MAMA!" what seems like every ten minutes. Whether they need a drink, a snack, help going to the bathroom, their shoes re-tied, a toy off the top shelf or a multitude of different things...I hear the boys screaming my name all day every day! I've noticed over the lifetime of both of my boys that when they call for me, or even just say my name from the back seat of the car to point out something they've seen out their window, I have to respond to them in order to get the "calling" to stop. When I'm at home, and on the other side of the house, sometimes that response requires me to walk to wherever they are and see what they need and sometimes it simply requires me to respond to them verbally. Over the years, I have learned that I have to respond with the word "What?" in order for the boys to feel like I've really heard them. It can be very frustrating, but if I respond to their cries with "Yes?" or "Huh?" or any other word they just continue to say "Mama" and call my name until they hear "What?".

Lesson Learned? One day, while I was driving in the car and the boys were trying to get my attention, I had responded to them with EVERY other word possible besides "What?" and they continued to say "mama" over and over until in a huff I finally said "WHAT?" After I answered them with "what" the boys continued with whatever they wanted to tell me. In that moment, in my moment of mommy frustration, the Lord spoke to me and told me that we do this same thing to Him. So often, we keep asking the Lord the same exact thing over and over and over and over and we cry out to him over and over and over and over not even noticing that he is answering us. We are so focused on hearing one specific word, one specific answer that even as the Lord continues to answer our cries, using a variety of words and answers, we refuse to hear Him. We just continue asking our question. Maybe we don't want to hear the answer He is giving or maybe we just aren't in tune with His voice but whatever the "excuse" we are unable to move forward in our own lives and with what the Lord wants for us because we aren't hearing Him. We need to listen, tune in, find the voice of the Lord and pay attention. God is speaking to us all! We are only driving ourselves crazy and postponing the answers and blessings God has for us as individuals by not listening and just asking the same questions day after day. The Lord IS answering you!