We were having a settled Saturday morning, just relaxing, refusing the hustle, refusing to let the clock dictate our day…

Then the almost-two-year-old love of mine decided she needed what she wanted, and she was going to take control and dominate this peaceful morning and throw an all-out, shrill, screaming-at-the-top-of-her-lungs, I’m not backing down TEMPER TANTRUM. It’s nap time, she’s overstimulated, she’s just telling us, “I’M DONE.”

The whole house woke up.

The peace got sucked out of the room with her frantic inhales as she sobbed and swung her arms.

I will admit to you, I get unsettled when this happens. I get a little edgy, and uncomfortable because let’s admit it, this is not fun.

My mind wheels begin to churn, as thoughts enter like, “who’s kid is this!?”

I am tempted to begin to ask myself, “what am I doing wrong with her?”

“Why is she losing it right now?”

“What didn’t I do?”

Immediately my emotions rise, and they try to take over. The family feels it— what’s about to go down, I’m sure they wonder…

I whisper, “God. Help me with this. Tell me what to do.”

So I go get her, I go pick her up and take her and lay her down for her nap.

Meanwhile, my older two are sitting at the dining room table, trying to eat their pancakes, sleepy eyes and minds still, and we hear Tate singing something at the table…

“I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.”

Immediately, I mean immediately, Peace returned. I choose to receive that… as a result my heart was comforted, my focus was redirected, all from a couple of stanzas from a kids song about Jesus.

Tate didn’t know likely what he did, or how he spoke peace back into the morning. Tate’s words, his little song he learned at church, reminded us all that we can pick up that joy at any time, not matter what temper tantrum is erupting around us.

I love it when God seeps out of the mouth of babes.

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Psalm 8:2: “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”