A Lesson in Listening and Grace

This is our Mia. I love this little girl so much. Over a year ago,probably closer to 2 years ago, we started the super fun job of potty training. As first time parents we had no idea what to expect. Getting her to pee in the potty came pretty quickly, but going "number 2" did not come as easily. Every time she had to poop, she would run and hide. We decided to wait, thinking "she'll do it when she's ready". Age 3 rolls around, and we try again.... same results. We tried everything we could think of from prizes, other rewards, disciplining her.... everything. We made a chart with prizes every time she went in the potty, and then after she got 5 stars, Hershey Park! even a Dog! I mean we tried it all.

When age 4 rolled around, and she still was pooping in her pants, we started getting frustrated, even angry at times. "Mia, you know when you have to poop because you run and hide! Just sit on the potty!" We were at our wits end.

Finally we were at the point where Stephanie said, "OK, you pooped in your pants again, just sit in it... we're not changing you." Now I never claim to hear God speak to me.... in fact, I have so many voices going in my head from day to day, I don't know who's who. It's true. But as we both sat there, frustrated and angry with her, refusing to change her poopy pants again, God spoke to me. "How many times each day do you mess up? And each time, I forgive you. Each and every time, even though you slip up in the same areas every single day." He also said, "Just stop trying to fix it yourself, stop with all the promises of rewards, etc. I want you to just let Me handle it. Every morning you need to pray for Mia. Pray for her stomach, pray for her day. Just pray, and I will take care of it."

So we did it. We stopped getting mad, though it was still frustrating, and we prayed over Mia every morning. A few days went by, maybe even a week, with the same results of poopy pants, but we kept praying. And then..... One day she just started going and sitting on the potty and pooping in the potty! I think she had one or 2 accidents in the first couple of days, but now she's pooping in the potty all the time!

Lessons learned.... quit trying to do things on your own! When times are tough, God is there! He wants to help you, He wants you to let him take care of things! Also, think about how many times we mess up each day, often in the same areas. God forgives us each and every time.... he picks us back up when we fall! How awesome is that!? He wants us to remember that and extend that grace to people and areas in our lives.