Today Alyanna and I had a very dramatic mother-daughter moment. As much as I want to say that it was all a sappy and sweet kind of drama, it wasn’t. Rather, it was a moment when I wanted to just yell at her and get mad. I felt so disrespected by her. She talked as if she was a rebellious teenager and just couldn’t tolerate it. I was sad, hurt, confused, frustrated….My system just wanted to blow.

“I’ve created a monster!”

I’m sure Alyanna felt the same way. I’m sure she felt as if she just wanted to yell and get mad at me, too. I’m sure she talked the way she did to let me know she didn’t like not having her way. She felt as if she knew what she wanted and that she was right and I was wrong for not allowing things to go her way.

In her eyes, I was the monster.

Our drama lasted for almost an hour, I think. Almost an hour of crying, time-outs, talking, discplining, and then afterward, reconciliation. I did not want to be the one to discipline her because I did not want to communicate any frustration or anger to her. I asked Dennis to intervene, and so he had the disciplining part covered. When Alyanna’s pride was finally broken and she was sincerely sorry for the way her heart was and the way she acted, I talked to her. She asked me to teach her and to always remind her to be respectful and loving. I told her for me to able to teach her she had to remove pride in her heart, and allow me to speak into her life and remind her.

Out of the blue, Alyanna asked me, “Mom, how do I get to Heaven?”

*TEACHABLE MOMENT ALERT!*

I told her how all of us have a black heart because of our sin. I told her how Jesus came and died on the cross so that we can be forgiven of our sins and so that we can be saved and be with God in heaven. I told her how all of us, including mommy and daddy, need Jesus to come into our lives and change our hearts. I asked her if she wanted to ask Jesus to come into her heart and forgive her,  give her a new white Alyanna heart and change her. She said yes. We prayed.

Of course, this conversation (and the drama prior to it) went on longer than how I am relaying it now. I just want to spare you the lengthy details.

*FAST FORWARD TO PRESENT DATE*

It’s been a couple of days now and I have seen how Alyanna’s temperament has changed, and how it is easier for her to extend kindness and love to those around her. A few days ago, she told her aunt how Jesus has given her a new Alyanna heart.

She has understood. Apart from what Jesus has done on the cross, all of us have monstrous tendencies because of sin. Only by the power of what Christ has done on the cross can we be changed and given a new heart– a heart that knows how to love, forgive, hope, and be selfless.

I remember that a few nights before our drama took place, Dennis and I prayed that Alyanna would understand what Jesus has done for her and that she will accept Him as her Savior and Lord. I didn’t expect God’s answer to come so soon (a day or two after), but it just goes to show how God wants to reveal himself even to our very young children. It just goes to show how much He loves them and how He really is partnering with us as we parent our children.

Parents, let us be diligent in praying for our children, and let us be keen on seizing teachable moments. If I had allowed my emotions to rule, I wouldn’t have been able to show grace and forgiveness and compassion. I would not have seen the opportunity to minister to the heart of this little girl, and to hear her cry for a Savior.

Thank you Lord for working in my heart AND in my child’s heart. Thank you for saving us from our monstrous selves and for the grace to live lives that will please you.