Just For You

Last night, I was reading one of my favorite childhood books to Eliza. Mercer Mayer's "Just For You". The first time I reread it was about 6 months ago; I was in tears. Last night as I read it to Eliza, I was struck with so many thoughts and inspired to write a blog. So bear with me as I share what God spoke to me through my favorite children's book.
The book is about Little Critter. Throughout the book, he is trying to do all these nice things for his mom, but everything seems to fail miserably, until the end. The book reads like this:

      .
This morning I wanted to make breakfast just for you, but the eggs were too slippery.
I wanted to wash the floor just for you, but the soap was too bubbly.
I wanted to put away the dishes just for you, but the floor was too wet.
I wanted to carry the groceries just for you, but the bag broke.
I ate my sandwich just for you, but not my crusts.
I wanted to take a nap just for you, but the bed was too bouncy.

 I wanted to mow the lawn just for you, but I but I was too little.

I picked an apple just for you, but on the way home I got hungry.
I wanted to set the table just for you, but the TV was too loud.
I wanted to not splash in my bath just for you, but there was a storm.
I wanted to do something very special,just for you.(As he hugs his Mom)
And I did it! 

The first time I read this to Eliza, after many years, I literally cried. As a Mother, I couldn't help but think of Eliza and how many times she tries to do nice things for me; like wash the dishes, fix her own lunch, give Lucy a snack. All of which end up being a bigger mess than we started with. Sometimes I get frustrated and think I should have just done it myself. But when I read this book, I was taken aback just thinking about the innocence of children. It's amazing how much they simply want to please us, and how hard that can be for them sometimes. That no matter how many times they mess that up, they still keep trying. If only to see us smile and tell them "Good job!"  What a blessing it is to be a mother and to be a part of these little moments; at times messy and frustrating, but truly beautiful.

Yesterday as I read, I was struck in a different way. I thought of us, being like Little Critter. Always trying to do these little things to please God, Our Father. And usually failing miserably. And how many times, unlike Little Critter, we want to just give up. How we don't have the faith and perseverance of a child. How at times, we can be selfish  I picked an apple just for you, but on the way home I got hungry. How God must be frustrated with us so many times a day, but (like a parent with a child) loves us through it all. The greatest and most humbling part of this book is the very end where after several failed attempts at serving his mother, he does the simplest and greatest thing he can do. Love her. It's so simple! We will try to serve God in hundreds of ways. And most likely there will be times we will fail miserably. (If you're anything like me, several times a day!) But in the end, the greatest and most important thing we can do, is to give Him our Love!  ~Andrea