Fallen Mirrors

I could hear the tiny fists pounding against the mirror over and over. I scrambled into the closet and warned the sweet boy of his impending demise if he continued to play near the unanchored mirror leaning against the wall.

He looked at me blankly and ran off to play.

Days later, the same tiny fists began pounding the same leaning mirror. 

"No no Brooks, you can't touch the mirror. It will fall and hurt the baby." 

Each time the closet would be left opened he would wander in and the scenario would repeat. Again and again.  I would talk to him about the danger, remove him from the situation, and distract him with other activities. 

But each time, the desire to pound tiny palms against the mirror and look at the "baybee" drew him back in. 

Then it happened. One Saturday morning as we both stood there getting ready, the mirror crashed on top of him after tiny fists stopped pounding and started pulling instead.  It trapped him and scared him.  He cried out and I ran.  I lifted the mirror and scooped him up.  Soothing him, rocking him, comforting him in his disobedience that led to self inflicted pain. There was no "I told you so." No anger or snark.  No spanking or discussion.  

I sat there rocking him in awe as I realized God was teaching me about himself through my child.  About his heart as my father. 

God has told me no so many times in my life.  The no's have come in a plethora of ways. Warning signs, verbal reprimands, talks, questions, and sometimes flat out red flags that should have sent me running away screaming.  Yet every time I've ignored the no, disobeyed the command, when the mirror falls, He takes me into his arms and He comforts me.  He never tells me "I told you so." His love abounds despite my mistakes.  How deep the Father's love for me.  For us.  For my sweet Brooks who will need Jesus to comfort him when one of life's mirrors crashes down upon his disobedience. 

And yet again, my tiny boy, gave me a glimpse into God's love for me. He taught me a lesson that I hadn't fully grasped on my own.  How great the Father's love for us is.