The Great Oatmeal Standoff

It seemed like it was going to be a smash hit. Oatmeal with a banana in it. Jacob likes oatmeal. Jacob likes bananas. Perfect. I don't even like oatmeal and I thought it tasted pretty good. Jacob got one bite into it and stopped swallowing. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING could make him swallow that bite. Believe me, I tried everything. Already dressed in his bathing suit in anticipation of Grammie Play Day, Jacob wouldn't even swallow when he was threatened with the prospect of missing out on the event. So, I took him to his room- bite still in mouth and getting very....soggy....by this point- and changed his clothes. We were not going to Grammie Play Day. It had been 15 minutes and that same first bite was still fermenting in his mouth. Of course Jacob sneezed as I was pulling up his shorts, splattering me with what was once oatmeal, now oatmush. It was very unpleasant. I went to clean up. Jacob went back to his seat at the table. I vowed he wouldn't leave the table until his food was gone, or bedtime. Whichever came first.

Twenty minutes had elapsed by this point and Jacob finally spit the bite back onto his plate, his face a pleasant arrangement of little boy dimples and pure, blatant defiance. For being so cute, he sure was bad.

After another hour at the table during which time not an iota of oatmeal either entered or exited his mouth, I finally realized I was going to have to change my tactic. I simply had to take a shower and we simply could not spend all day sitting at the table. In moments like this, when I don't know what to do next, I do the only thing that makes sense. I call my mom. We formulated a plan that I would take Kaylen to Grammie Play Day and drop her off, and then Jacob would have to come back home with me. That way he would see his punishment as an actual punishment. Up to that point, he was still unphased.

This is the first time in his life that Jacob has been so defiant, so strongwilled, so stubborn. It kind of hurt my feelings if you want to know the truth. Who was this boy, and what had he done with my angel?

A bit later I dropped Kaylen off. Jacob had to tell his cousins, already splashing in the pool, that he was sorry he couldn't stay and play because he didn't obey. He was quite the little man about it, while I was the baby, almost in tears. I couldn't bear to have him miss out on this play day, he loves his cousins so much! My heart ached for him.

A somber little boy got back into the car. It was a quiet ride home.

As I unbuckled his car seat, I leaned in and gave him a kiss. Immediately he wrapped his arms tightly around my neck. "I sorry I not obey." I choked up at the sweetness of his repentence {and the death grip around my neck}. Little boy, I only want the best for you. One day you will understand.

Back to the table, fresh cold milk in his cup, I reheated his oatmeal and I said, "Let's start over." Never have I been so relieved as when he gobbled up his banana oatmeal. I just didn't know what I would do if he still refused to eat it. The kid hadn't eaten anything all day save the pinch of dirt he ate while we played outside. I'm not making that up. He really did pick up a pinch of dirt and chew, well crunch, it up between his teeth. His dentist and his mother were horrified.

The Great Oatmeal Standoff came to a peaceful resolution. After he ate his oatmeal, I fixed him a proper lunch and then we went back to Grammie Play Day and arrived in time to play for a little bit and to eat the cupcake he almost had to miss out on.

Sin is ugly and stinky, gloopy like oatmeal thats been chewed for 20 minutes. But repentence, ah. A glass of ice cold milk, cleansing and soothing, cooling and refreshing. It sure is good to be on the repentant side of sin, just ask Jacob. Once he got there, life was good. Of course, there were consequences, but once eaten, we put it behind us. No need to dwell on sin conquered. Likewise, God in heaven, fierce in His righteous anger at sin, softens at our repentance. Forgiven and Forgotten. "Let's start over", He says.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.

    He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.

Ps. 103: 8-9