The Five Little Ducks Blog

This morning we took Miss A and Miss L to attend their first day of childcare (I asked for their start date to be moved forward because I knew that Mr E and Miss R needed some respite). We had attended orientation together yesterday, so they seemed happy to be starting ‘preschool’.

As I pushed the pram along on our return journey, I noticed how with only Miss R sitting in it, the pram was so much lighter. Mr E wandered along beside me, talking about ants and worms and other things of fascination to a young child. When he was content to be quiet, there was no need to fill in the silence with chatter.

Ignoring the dirty kitchen floor, the basket of clean washing to be sorted, and the load in the laundry waiting to be hung on the line, we lounged on the floor at home playing with Duplo. Miss R sat on my lap, happy not to have to fight for her place, as I read to her her favourite book The Five Little Ducks.

I contemplated how peaceful the house was, how easy it was to be with just my two birth children. One word came to mind. Comfortable. We were all so comfortable together, it was like breathing. Then another thought struck me. Jesus never promised us a comfortable life.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble,” (John 16:33). Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me,” (Luke 9:23). Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,” (Matthew 25:35-36).

None of this sounds particularly comfortable.
As followers of Jesus, we are not called to live comfortable, easy, selfish lives. The small part I am playing for the Gospel is but a tiny drop in the ocean compared to the suffering of some for the name of Jesus. I felt compelled to have mercy on these children and love them as my own. What each of us is called to do in this life will be different.

My greatest concern in all of this is how my birth children will be impacted. Their lives were comfortable and we made the decision for them to make their lives uncomfortable. Mr E announced this morning that he did not want Miss A living with us. Tonight he begged us all to leave him alone. He is becoming frazzled by the situation. In the end, I hope that Mr E and Miss R will not resent us for our choice, because we love them so very much.

Miss A and Miss L were so pleased to see us when we arrived to collect them from childcare. All of the children were excited to be reunited. Apparently the girls had had a very good day. Miss A told me that she loves her new preschool. Miss L kept hugging me tightly with her arms wrapped around my neck and her legs around my waist, saying “Mumma, Mumma”. Tonight when I asked her what her favourite thing about preschool was, she said “Coming home, mummy.”

I have no answer as to how to make our family “work” smoothly. There are plenty of ups and downs to be had. Earlier this year as I was praying for our family, the image of a puzzle came to me. A puzzle with seven different pieces. When jumbled on the floor, a puzzle is messy, yet it all snaps in together and every piece has a place. I prayed that our family would be like that puzzle and that we would all lock in together. Somehow we would “fit”. I am still believing for this.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)