Our Journey Home: parmesan cheese on the bathroom floor

It was almost time for dinner. I was standing at the kitchen counter, chopping up vegetables. David was outside grilling, and the children were playing at the table with a few toys.

All of a sudden, Bella exclaimed, "Mommy! JJ just poured cheese all over the bathroom!"

I whirled around. "What??"

"Go look! He was shaking it and shaking it everywhere!" Bella pointed to the bathroom. I saw our little man standing at the scene of the crime. His toes were covered in parmesan cheese.

I had to take a deep breath. wink.

"I shake it, " was his only attempt at an explanation. "No no, JJ. We shake the cheese on our food, not the floor. No, no." I brushed off his little feet, and carried him to his crib for a time out.

I gathered up materials- dust pan and small broom, paper towels and cleaning spray. As I was on my hands and knees wiping up the floor, I was asking myself, "How did he get that cheese? How did this happen?"And then I realized, I know exactly how JJ was able to make such a mess, because I do it too. I make a mess all too often.

I left the parmesan cheese within JJ's reach. I took my eyes off of our little boy for a moment. I was distracted, and... parmesan cheese went everywhere. The same scenario plays out for me. Temptation surrounds me; the world is always just within my reach. And, if I take my eyes off the Lord, if I become too distracted to listen to the Holy Spirit... I make a mess.

I am so very thankful for my Savior, who knew that my mess would be too big for me. He knew that I could never be 'good' enough so He made a way for me. He sent His One and Only Son to die, for my sins. As I hugged our little boy and heard those sweet words, "I sorry, Mama. Please give me." (That's how JJ says please forgive me, it is adorable!) I praise God for the gift of forgiveness and for His perfect love for us!