In our household, it has been a season of little sleep. One morning, I woke to see our daughter in our room, curled up on my blue bathrobe.
As a working mom, getting myself and the kids out the door is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Chocolate for breakfast? I don’t want to cater to every whim, but I am almost willing to do whatever it takes.
A few steps from leaving, my daughter made a grab for my robe. I understand the support of a stuffed animal or a favorite toy, but my robe? I waffled. What came next melted any remaining doubt: a small voice pleading, “I want to take it. It’s yours. I want it to be close to you.”
She carefully walked through the day care parking lot and into the building. She held the robe up, but because it is so long, it dragged behind her, snagging in sticks and dirt, and dabbling in puddles along the way. Would it even fit in her cubby? I tried to make mental measurements and imagined her teacher’s surprised, polite reply.
I smiled at the sight of my robe going public: how quickly something so personal to me, something only those closest to me see, was just put out there. I am continually struck by the combination of vulnerability and intimacy that lies in parenting. Powerful love this deep can’t help but brings things to light. There is a continual offer of closeness: sometimes it is welcomed, sometimes in ways different than imagined, and sometimes in perseverance when ignored.
The site of the fuzzy material splaying out of the cubby held my heart captive. Here was a tangible reminder that love shows up in unusual places. At first, these places don’t make sense and may seem silly, or just plain foolish. God chose such a time when He put Himself in the flesh, came to earth, and took on sin so that we may intimately know Him. Leaving perfection, He, who is light, willingly entered the darkness. Amidst this darkness, He is the ultimate parent shedding His light upon us.
His love is so deep, it can’t help but bring us into His light: sometimes it is welcomed, sometimes in ways different than we imagined, and sometimes in perseverance when ignored. From the beginning through today, the glow of God’s light forever changes ordinary places.
Then: in a humble stable, on the banks crowded with the needy, and ultimately on the cross.
Today: in a pre-K classroom.
Other kids had trendy pillow pets and cute blankets. Mine had a faded blue bathrobe. The unusual contents of cubby #9 focused my frazzled heart and quieted my fatigued Spirit. Often, God will use the ordinary in an unusual way so that His love will brighten the darkened and dimmed places.
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Jamie Rohrbaugh says
That is so sweet. It kind of gives a different meaning to being covered with His robe of righteousness! Even thinking of Papa’s robe being like a baby’s comforting blanket makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks for sharing!
Kate Carman says
Thank you for reading and sharing that image, Jamie. I pray you feel God’s love today. His warm and fuzzies = priceless. 🙂
Kim J says
Just as your child found security and love in your bathrobe, we find security and love in our savior. He wraps us up in His love, and we find that same safeness and shelter. Thank you for a wonderful visual of his warmth for me!!
Kate Carman says
Thank you, Kim, for sharing how this connected with your heart. God showed me his love and security is continually available, even in the middle of a busy morning.
Melissa says
Beautiful! God gives us many different places to find comfort and a bathrobe is one of them. 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Kate Carman says
Hi Melissa, doesn’t God just love to show us love in places different from the expected? I pray you enjoy his comfort today.
Marty says
THIS.IS.BEAUTIFUL.
Three of our 4 kids are “young adults” now, and we have one still in school. I remember the blue robe days like it was yesterday.
This: “I am continually struck by the combination of vulnerability and intimacy that lies in parenting. Powerful love this deep can’t help but brings things to light. There is a continual offer of closeness: sometimes it is welcomed, sometimes in ways different than imagined, and sometimes in perseverance when ignored.”
NAILED IT.
Kate Carman says
Marty, your kind words remind me to enjoy the “bath robe days.” Thank you for the encouragement. Uplifting words from a veteran mom are golden when you are starting out, learning on the fly :).
Jen Langley says
I loved this! Thank you for sharing!
Kate Carman says
Thanks, Jen. Im glad it encouraged. May you feel Gods smile today and everyday.
Meg says
This was the sweetest reminder. Thank you.
Kate Carman says
Thanks for your time, Meg. I hope you are having a great day.
Trudy Den Hoed says
This is so sweet, Kate. How precious that you let her take it so she could feel more secure. 🙂
Kate Carman says
Trudy, in hindsight, I am glad I let that old robe go on a field trip, too :). I needed to shed insecurity that I would look wierd to give God’s love more room. Thanks for your encouragement.
maria says
Thank you for this sweet post!! He does certainly meet us in our need, even when we go to preK and need some comfort – it was so good of you to let your baby take the robe! I so love the imagery of it all!! Beautiful post!
Kate Carman says
Thank you Maria! Turns out there was much for me to learn that morning and an old robe was the vehicle to do that. Thanks for pointing out the imagery. The mental picture of her hefting my robe will surely stay with me.
Shelli Littleton says
Just precious, Kate.
Kate Carman says
Thanks for reading and encouraging, Shelli! 🙂
De'Ron says
Tia had a “silky”. It was a pillow case from a cheap set of satin sheets. It was royal blue and went everywhere. When Tevyn arrived she insisted he have a beloved “silk” as well. After a while and cutting up the sheet we ran very low on said silkies. Finally Sissy relented and turned over her last one to her baby brother. This thing saw ALOT of action. Church youth group trips, vacations, ball games….LIFE. The other day I was cleaning out a drawer and low and behold I found the last remaining remnant of silky. A flood of “first” ,”finals” & “forever’s” flashed through my mind. Making a home, providing memories & showing littles how to live for Christ is what it is truly all about. Robes, silky”s & all!!!
Kate Carman says
Aw, De’Ron, thank you for sharing! I love that image. Did you keep the last remnant of the silky? I sure would be tempted to. 🙂 Thanks for coming over here and reading and connecting. Thank you for also sharing that while there are “firsts” and ‘finals,’ there are also ‘forever’s,’ time marches on but God keeps those special times forever in our hearts!
Beth Williams says
I just loved this post! No children here, but I can relate to this post and your child. When hubby and I were dating he took off a shirt and I snuck it home to have him close to me. He never even knew till I fessed up.
I love how everyone here talks of God’s love constantly being with us and these earthly reminders we need daily!!
Blessings 🙂
Kate Carman says
Hi Beth! Thanks for sharing and I am so glad you stopped by. I love that you shared that special memory of your now husband’s shirt! 🙂 I too, enjoy this website, I need practical reminders that God’s love is way more than powerful and incredible than I tend to realize on my own. I like that the people are really real too 🙂
I am glad you were encouraged!
Eddie Morris says
Wonderful story. Thank you. I hope to read more from you! My youngest started Daycare this week and wore her new birthday socks on her hands like Mittens – 3 days in a row. ???
Kate Carman says
Eddie, thank you! Much strength and love to you this week as you start the day care adventure.
Violet wore socks on her hands as well, the day care teacher told me, oh so politely, that she looked liked a homeless person, could I get her some mittens? I don’t think she meant to be offensive, just being honest. I just smiled and said, she may look homeless, but she is happy in doing so. May you be blessed in this new season that ultimately feels so stressful and chaotic at most times, God’s love is waiting to pop up in front of you to refresh and make you smile….maybe in a pair of socks on the hands 🙂