R doesn’t eat solids yet; although he takes great delight in mushing and playing with whatever delicacies we set before him (avocados, anyone?), his main source of nourishment is milk. Without milk, his growth and development would slow, and intervention would be needed.

Where is your main source of nourishment coming from, Mama? Though there is much to delight us as we attend to this (social media, anyone?) or that (loving on our kids?), our main source of nourishment, the only One who sustains us and never disappoints on this journey is Jesus.

Have you had the opportunity to pause and feed your soul today? Might naptime provide a few moments to meditate? Perhaps a podcast or worship music while doing the dishes? As you nourish your little ones, try to nourish your own soul as well.

Little fingers reached out and gingerly grabbed even littler fingers. Holding hands for family prayer has been a new experience since R started eating solids. J offered his hand, but made faces as he touched R’s sticky and oatmeal covered hand. Extending the hand of grace at 5 years of age isn’t easy.

How amazing that God bends his ear and extends his hand to the heartfelt thanks of an 18 month old with cereal encrusted hands.  How amazing that God bends his ear and extends his hand to me…when I come to him with my “messiness”, my snapping at the kids, my spending too much time checking Facebook, my reticence to invite a neighbor in or pause for conversation with that friend who shares more than I’m willing to listen to.

Even at the tender age of 5, God is teaching my son to extend his hand to those who are “messier” than he is. Just as God extends his grace to us. To me. To sticky fingers everywhere.

Is there someone “messy” in your life who you should contact this week? Follow His leading, Mama. Even a simple text or note can change someone’s day.