The Ants Go Marching

A few years ago...

I am in my kitchen washing dishes, when through the kitchen window above the sink I see my firstborn crying - Right next to her is our second born. So I slide open the kitchen window and ask why she is so upset.

My sweet girl went on to tell me all about the ants she was watching. As she watched, she dreamed her own story. As it turns out, it was a wedding ceremony and she had just witnessed the happy I Do's of Mr and Mrs Ant.

As she stood watching this beautiful moment for the Ants, out of nowhere a nozzle appears and as liquid sprays out the Ants scatter in desperation and fear.

The groom, beloved Mr. Ant, did not survive.

In total devastation my daughter is now sobbing and grieving the loss, as she feels the deep pain Mrs. Ant is now devastated by, having lost her groom ON her wedding day.

My second born as it turns out, unfortunately (and unbeknownst to him) had "ruined everything" by choosing that moment to carry out one of his responsibilities: spraying the back patio with ant / bug repellent.

I stood there frozen for a moment totally stunned as my daughter painfully finished explaining, tears soaking her face, her brother next to her FULLY entertained.

After a stunned momentary pause, trying to process all the information, naturally, I started laughing.

A deep full belly laugh, and the more I laughed the more my sweet girl cried.

As I lightly told her she was being "silly" she spat back through now intense hiccuping sobs "how would you feel if YOU had JUST gotten married to daddy and then someone came in and killed him?!?!"

In that moment I thought "No one prepared me for this moment!!"

These curve-balls come in parenting and sometimes we NAIL them, sometimes we full on FAIL them, and sometimes we sorta stumble through.

I released my slightly nervous second born, I affirmed him that he did NOT do anything wrong, to my daughters dismay.

As she began to argue when I dismissed my son, I calmly explained that he was just doing his job. I started with being firm and mostly ignoring her meltdown. But as i returned to dishes after shutting the window my insides turned. She was feeling BIG 7year old emotions and did NOT know how to handle them and I was throwing away a teachable moment.

So I found myself sliding that window above the kitchen sink BACK open and calling her inside. When she came to the kitchen I pulled her in for a big mama hug and held her tight ; she cried hard.

I finally asked her why she was crying over ants and she replied that she KNEW it was silly but couldn't help but cry.

I feel that way sometimes, and I need healthy outlets for my emotions. MY husband is a big one for me, just being able to confide in him or get a quick hug works wonders. Having a close friend to talk to is another source. In our little kitchen that day though, I pointed her towards her heavenly father; as I reminded her that He knows us better than we know ourselves, and turning to Him to share our hard moments is the MOST helpful thing to do.

An ant crisis could have resulted in a fight, a battle of wills or punishments. But instead it turned into another precious growing moment in our Little Kitchen.

Psalm 46:1

God is our Refuge and strength, a very present help in our trouble.