Lessons learned during mat time

Serene is a ball of infectious energy these days, which causes me to reflect on how good and creative God is for granting babies such fervor to expend during play, or what we dub "mat time" around here. We plop her down on her quilt in the living room and observe in awe as she rolls around and around, scoots here and there, and lunges for every object within reach in the exploratory process, though Sophie le giraffe and Cosette the fox are inevitably favored over the rest. She gets to enjoy her mat time while we get to revel in her amusing antics. I am then reminded in those sweet moments of the simple purity of a child's joy. God uses Serene's unadulterated joy to remind me to foster a happy heart - specifically, to be thankful and content in all circumstances, at which I have been failing miserably of late. I've been giving into a grumbling and angry heart instead. Thankful for the cross where Christ paid for my failures and offers hope and grace to live differently than I would naturally be inclined.

Other lessons learned from mat time: Such playful revelry lasts a glorious 15-20 minutes before the babe starts screaming from sensory overstimulation (It's become a race to get dinner on the table before our new timer goes off!). Also, do not allow the baby to continue her mat time after she has pooped. She will make you regret your procrastination in changing her diaper as she rolls around in her filth and transfers excretory surprises onto the blanket in gurgly glee.