Mama, Play With Me

“Mama, play with me?”

This is a daily request from my 3-year-old daughter. She is incredibly imaginative and can play independently for a very long time. I love to stand in the doorway and listen to the scenes she expresses out loud; it’s so sweet and special. Sometimes, she sees me walk by the room, or sometimes she comes to find me in the house, but she always grabs my attention throughout the day with, “Mama, play with me.” I make a point to have focused play with her every day; sometimes it’s 10 min, and other days it’s much longer. But, I know it means so much to her to have my undivided attention, without my phone, computer, and daily chores splintering my attention.

As soon as I hear, “Mama,” my ears are keen to hear to what she has to say.

Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call, Isaiah 59:1, NIV.

One of the Lord’s most beautiful characteristics is that even though He knows what we are about to say, He listens anyway.

The quality time I spend with my children can be paralleled with the time I spend with my heavenly Father, sitting at His feet, just wanting to be in His presence. Stacking blocks with my kids builds memories and relationships, and spending time with God is the essential building block to growing my relationship with Him.

Children don’t say, “I’m having a bad day, can we talk over milk and cookies? Or, I’m lonely and having a difficult time with potty training.” They say, “Mama, play with me.” They don’t know how to articulate their emotions the way we should be able to, but they subconsciously know they need to spend time with us to feel safety and peace. We have a listening ear to their requests.

When you and I feel anxious, overwhelmed, or lonely, the first thing we should do is go to our Heavenly Father. “God, I’m having a terrible day.” “I’m so stressed about money and don’t like feeling anxious about how I will buy groceries.” “I don’t know what to do about this situation with my child, and I need You to intervene.” “I need your wisdom with these new policies at work. I want to stand for truth, but I’m worried I’ll get fired.”

Whatever is ailing your spirit, God cares. He is not only our Heavenly Father; He is our faithful friend, and He will always listen to your heart’s cry. Talk with Him today and share your heart. He loves spending time with His beloved.