De-leavening Adventures with Little Ones

Picture of Emily Smith

Emily Smith

Emily Smith is blessed to share life's adventures with her loving husband and four beautiful daughters. She enjoys learning, exploring and creating with them and their wonderful friends and family around the world.

It’s always an adventure to de-leaven with toddlers in the house! One year I swept out a closet and before I could close the door, someone was in there chomping on a pretzel! This year is just as fun as we go about our de-leavening adventure. The girls are always right there in the midst, either helping or exploring lost treasures we find. It is definitely one of my favorite experiences, so refreshing and encouraging, and of course humbling! I try to keep the spiritual element in mind, asking God to show me where the hidden leaven is in my heart, and to help me get rid of it! But just as the physical spaces get quickly re-crumbed by little munchers, so I find my spiritual progress equally slow-going during this constantly demanding stage of life! 

 

We worked in the school room today, sweeping and sorting through all the “stuff” that gets piled up around the room. We made quite a bit of progress and I thought to myself, “I don’t think anything can get under the bookshelf, I’ll just leave it.” But something told me I was probably wrong… so I pulled it out and what do you know! I was impressed by the pile that had gathered under there!

Of course, the girls were quite pleased to find some long-lost toys, and I was once again reminded, “He who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall!” Oftentimes, the areas I think I’m “fine” in spiritually are the ones I’m tested in the most!

 

Another big lesson for me is distraction. We get started in one spot and I realize I need to go through this bin, or that cabinet. Or maybe I’ll just go ahead and try to put Sam’s ears back on, now that we have both of them together again.

It is so easy to get distracted in our world today, and especially with four little people to take care of each day. This Scripture stood out to me when I began my quest toward self-examination: 

 

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” 

 

It is so helpful to keep in mind as I approach the daily demands of motherhood. Keeping the right focus is not always easy, but it makes such a difference in our day (and my attitude!) when I do!

Even though it can be painful, it is such a blessing to be shown our “leavened” spots, so that we can take the steps to root them out of our hearts and minds. I have a binder from the last few years with notes about self-examination. Some of the same things keep showing up from year to year. It can feel a little disheartening, but it’s yet another reminder of God’s amazing love and His abundant grace. What an awesome opportunity to be a part of His perfect plan and to benefit from the incredible sacrifice of Christ!

 

I hope this time of year is both inspiring and uplifting as we draw near to God in deep appreciation for all He has done, all that He does, and all He has yet to do in the future. May these days be full of joyful learning for you and your little ones as you celebrate this special time of year!

Ahh… it feels so fresh and clean! (I’ll spare you the picture of the other side of the room — we’ll let tomorrow worry about its own things!)

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10 Responses

  1. hey Emely I love you Adventure I wish you were here we can have fun together I miss you a lot the baby is so big you no have baby no more it’s so big and beautiful god bless

  4. Sharing God’s wonderful way of life & the hope for future as we de-leaven our lives & them do the same is one of the greatest joys of our Christian journey. Hope you are all doing well and enjoy wonderful Passover Season.

  5. The girls are so blessed to have you as their mom. This is the way God intends to be a parent.
    There are so many wonderful things to learn this time of year and to carry it through the rest of the year Keep on keeping on. Lots of love to the whole family, Ray and Renee.