There have been several breathing treatments going on this week, and I'm not talking about the type that help treat asthma or allergies. This week has been one of those weeks. I'm talking about the type of breathing treatments where the little voice in my head starts to say, "Breathe in, breathe out. You love your children. Get down to his level and speak calmly. Breathe in, breathe out." I have felt worn out. Grumpy. Impatient. Tested. Stressed. The boys have been little monkeys. Doing naughty mischievous things and feeding off of one another's laughs while I am trying to discipline. Sometimes it's non-harmful stuff like trying to climb Bear's crib.
Sometimes it is harmful stuff. And that's when the breathing treatments come in handy the most.
Tonight I learned a lesson--and it wasn't about how to breathe.
After we had put the kids to bed, Kyle came in and out of his room a couple of times. He needed to tell us that Bear wanted a muffin, but that there were no muffins. Another time he came to tell us that Bear really wanted to watch Elmo. All important things. Then a little bit later we heard the door open and shut. Then it opened again and Kyle came running frantically out of his room, crying he saw a bug lit up. I asked him if it was a scorpion and he said yes. He was visibly shaken up and had a hard time calming down. Tim went in the room, turned on the lights and sure enough saw a scorpion. How did Kyle see it?
After Kyle finally calmed down he re-told what had happened. He got off his bed and thought he saw something by his feet. He went to turn on the light and saw the scorpion. Then he opened the door and ran as fast as he could.
How could he see the scorpion in the pitch-black room? As Kyle was telling us about it, Tim and I both had the same first impression. Heavenly Father protected him. Heavenly Father illuminated the scorpion for him.
I get tears in my eyes just typing it. Dramatic? Maybe. Serious? Yes. It just scares me to think of this little boy getting hurt. The same little boy that was driving me to the breaking walls of sanity earlier. Life is so precious. Kids are so precious.
Tim told Kyle that Heavenly Father protected him and Kyle asked, "But Dada, when is Heavenly Father going to put fire around us to protect us from the scorpions?" Wow. Was he really listening when we read that story in the scriptures? The connections this kid makes always makes me stop in my tracks. He is listening. He is listening when we read the scriptures. He is listening when I'm on the phone with Tim, telling him that I don't know how much longer I can handle the boys.
What do I want him to hear more of?
I'm so grateful Heavenly Father protected Kyle tonight and then I was reminded of how important my role is as a mom and the things I choose to say and do. If you don't know the story about Nephi and Lehi encircled by fire, you can read about it here.
