Becoming Mo

“Have you ever tried doing anything with a child?”

I heard that line in church and tried really hard not to burst out laughing – because I have. Many times. Before having my own child and even more so after. And I can tell you for a fact: you need a whole lot of love and patience.

I have a lovely little one who wants to do everything with me. For instance, I used to bake a lot – and of course, baking has become her favourite thing to do… while I’m doing it.

That means everything has to come in twos.

There’s a lot of waste.

Flour everywhere.

Pleading for “my turn” with the rolling pin.

Playing therapist when her dough doesn’t turn out like mine.

Helping her try again, or sometimes just giving her some of mine.

And then comes cleanup.

That’s another struggle entirely, because to her it’s more like, “Hey! I was just helping you.”

So why, exactly, does she have to clean up?

It was often frustrating because everything took twice as long. So I resorted to baking at night, after she’d gone to bed.

I can handle the “You baked without me?” tears much better than the mess created when we bake together.

Doing things together is fun. It’s cute.

But it’s also very messy, and very time-consuming.

Sometimes I wonder if that’s how God sees us.

When I read verses like “For I know the plans I have for you… plans of peace” or “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health,” I’m reminded that God’s intentions toward us are rooted in love and goodness.

He has a plan.

He has mapped out the end from the beginning.

And yet, sometimes… we want to help.

Help move things along.

Nudge the process.

Suggest a “better” way.

Point out a shortcut.

In trying to help, we often create messes we could have avoided. And sometimes, we delay our own journey to that expected end He already planned for us.

As humans, surrender doesn’t come easily. We think we know the terrain – better roads, faster routes. And God, in His gentleness, often lets us try.

I wonder if God chuckles, sighs, rolls His eyes or simply says ‘here we go again’ when we decide to “start.” I’m fairly certain we amuse Him.

Sometimes, I wish God would always bake at night for me – so I’d wake up in the morning to freshly baked pastries and coffee. That way, I wouldn’t get in the way.

The art of surrender is hard. I know this because I’m still learning it – still practicing how to let go and stop being the little messy helper.

To truly let go and let God.

I know I certainly need to.

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Maybe faith isn’t about doing more.

Maybe it’s about trusting more.

About putting down the rolling pin, stepping back from the mess, and believing that the One who began the work knows exactly how to finish it.