We're Not Alone

Frazzled and a little discouraged, (which is more than a little hard for me to admit), I climbed into the car, took a deep breath and looked down.  Snot.  Literally.  On the leg of my pants.  Which one of the two little guys was that from, I thought to myself.  More importantly, GROSS!  Seriously!  Wipe it off already!!  As I opened the console to retrieve a Kleenex, I glanced back at MCHN (my curly haired niece) and my baby boy sitting happily in their car seats wondering what kind of adventure I was taking them on now.  They smiled, legs kicking wildly, ready for anything I had for them.

But that was just it.  I didn't have it...not today.  It was only 10 a.m. and I was already tired and wondering where in the world I was going to find the energy to carry on the rest of the day.  Then the games began.

"Hi mommy!"
"Hi baby boy," I half-heartily replied, fumbling to get my keys in the ignition.
"Hi mommy!"
"Hi my little curly haired niece."  I took a deep breath, let out a huge sigh and tried to pull myself together.
"Hi mommy!"
"Hi sweet boy."
"Hi mommy!"

Seriously?  I paused and glanced in the rear-view mirror at them.  They looked at each other and giggled.

"Hi mommy!" MCHN repeated.  "Hi mommy! Hi mommy! Hi mommy!"  Faster and faster.  "Mommy!!  Hi Mommy!"

My sweet boy looked at her with mischief in his eyes and cracked up laughing at her.  This was the beginning of the giggle-fest.  Right there in our car, frazzled and wearing snotty pants, I chuckled at them.  They paid me no attention.  They were in their own la-la land, laughing at each other hysterically.  My sweet little boy was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes and his dimpled little cheeks were turning bright red.  His eyes pleaded with MCHN as if to beg her, stop, please stop!  But she continued..."...mommy!  Hi mommy!  Hi mommy!  Mommy!  Mommy!"  My baby boy's giggle turned to deep belly laughs and I had to turn around and watch them both, afraid to miss a minute of their light-hearted, loving connection.

I smiled and felt warm all over, happy that they were becoming friends.  I mean, who wants to spend their days alone, right?  Then I was reminded of a scripture verse shared recently by a friend: 

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 41:10)

God works in mysterious ways.  Today He played two small children like tiny, beautiful, giggly instruments.  I hear You.  Thanks for reminding me that I am not alone.