One of the hardest things for me about raising little ones: has been those moments when they won’t stop crying.

They warn you about it after your baby is born, but sometimes you have no idea what you’re in for, until you take them home.

Why, why, why

It could be because they’re tired, sick, hungry, teething, hot, cold and a myriad of other things. But in those moments of constant crying, my heart races, I start sweating, I feel a bit dizzy and my head starts spinning.

I never knew their tears would affect me so much. I never knew their would be times I wished I could carry their pain and discomfort as their earthly Mama. I never knew their would be times my own body and heart would feel like it physically hurt for theirs.

The idea of feeling someone else’s pain becomes all too real when you become a parent. It’s overwhelming at times.

And when my littlest wouldn’t stop crying this afternoon amidst teething and feeling a bit under the weather: I could feel my insides start running the race of worry.

What if something is really wrong? What if he’s more than just uncomfortable? I’ve rocked him, held him, fed him, changed him, comforted him, I’ve done everything my frazzled mama brain can think to do.

So why won’t he stop crying?

It’s a feeling of almost desperation in my heart when they are too little to tell me what’s wrong.

A feeling that makes me wish I could carry it all for them. As an earthly mama, when my children are uncomfortable, upset, hurting or scared, I will do whatever it takes to comfort them.

And even though my arms feel like they’re falling off and my shoulder is falling asleep from this little boy finally passing out on me after what felt like hours of sobbing.

I am grateful I get to be their comfort.

I am grateful all three of our children can snuggle into my arms and find a safe place to rest whenever they need to.

God wants us to rest in Him

And it got me thinking: if I feel so deeply when my children are hurting and I want to take the pain away as an earthly Mama,

How much more does my Heavenly Father feel for me when He knows I’m hurting?

How much more does He want me to rest in His arms and dry my tears?

How much more dies he want to be my safe place to rest?

Instead of all the other things that distract me.

One of the hardest things for me about raising little ones: has been those moments when they won’t stop crying.

And in those moments I am reminded, that just as I want to calm them down and dry their eyes, just as I would do absolutely anything to take their pain and discomfort away:

My Heavenly Father feels the same way about me. And He has promised to be my comfort. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me. He has promised that one day all tears will be wiped away. So for now, just as my sweet little one, I’ll rest my weary mama heart in His everlasting arms.