“A God Hug With Suction Cup Feet”

My husband returned from an errand a couple Sunday nights ago. As he opened the door he called out, “Honey, come and look at this!” As I entered the kitchen, I saw, on the glass door, the cutest little tree frog staring in at me.

Just 2 days before, we had laughed, once again, about Josiah’s Birthday “Tree Frog” story. He loved frogs and on any given day he would be down at the creek catching the little critters.

What Josiah considered a pet, the snakes considered food, which led to a few snake bites while trying to rescue frog families from becoming meals. No poisonous snakes, thank God, but just snippy because a boy had taken their lunch.

I’ve said it a million times, Josiah LOVED adventure and nature. Put those two things together and well…….

“I Know What I Want”

Any parent knows that a child’s birthday list starts usually a few months before their actual birthday, so it was no surprise that all we heard for many weeks before July 12th was, “I want a tree frog from the pet store!” He never wavered in his decision.

We made our way to the pet store to purchase the cute little fella and walked out with $125 worth of everything it needed to stay happy and healthy.

I’m just thinking to myself, “I’ll give you all the Cool Whip bowls you want and you can just catch away!” But I didn’t say it.

The boys ALWAYS had a Cool Whip bowl or 2 in their rooms with the catch of the day. I’d never felt more like a “Boy Mom” than the day that I yelled, “Would you please come in here and get your snake off of the microwave!” (It was in a Cool Whip bowl)

“Josiah, What Did You Do?”

Josiah was a responsible and caring tree frog owner until the day that an experiment didn’t quite go as planned. I went into his room and noticed that the little fella wasn’t moving or climbing or doing any of the things that tree frogs do.

“Josiah, I think something is wrong with your frog. Do you know why it isn’t moving?” Upon further inspection, I could tell that it’s “moving days” were over. (Side note…To this day I can’t remember what he named the frog, but I can remember that he named his opossum “Doris!”)

I continued with the interrogation. “Josiah, What happened? What did you do?” Crickets. Blank Stare. Again, at an octave a little higher than before, “Josiah, What happened???”

With tears in his eyes, he blurted out, “WELL, GOD PUT THOSE LITTLE SUCTION CUPS ON HIS FEET FOR A REASON! I WAS TRYING TO GET HIM TO STICK TO THE CEILING!!!”

I won’t go into further detail except to say that, “I hope the little tree frog, whose name I can’t remember, didn’t suffer too long.” Josiah did regret that particular decision and we did have a proper burial. The habitat and accessories of the dearly departed were sold at the next yard sale.

Motherly Instinct

What do cardinals, rainbows, butterflies, clouds, geese, sunsets, dragonflies, sunrises, blue birds, feathers, pennies, honey bees, hummingbirds, and even tree frogs have in common?

To an amazing group of Mom’s that I know, one or some of the above, have a very special meaning. It’s their own personal touch from God to let them know that their children who’ve gone ahead are OK.

As Mother’s, we have that God-given instinct to protect, to nurture, to provide, to want to know they’re safe, and to desire their happiness. This instilled quality of motherhood doesn’t go away just because our son’s or daughter’s did.

Whether you refer to them as a God Kiss, God Hug, God Nod, God Wink, etc. they all mean the same thing, which is,” a personal reminder from God that He will never forget you or leave you alone in your grief.” They most certainly come when we need them most. I pray for them. I expect them.

Two of the most desperate times that we need our God Hugs are the anniversaries of the day they were born and the day that you outlived them.

Truth of the matter is, I’m desperate ALL the time and there’s NEVER a time that a God Kiss wouldn’t be welcomed, but those two particular days scream the loudest. Unfortunately, we are living here with part of our heart missing. If that’s not desperation, I don’t know what is.

A close friend recently had a picture scroll across her screen. A photo of happier times, when her daughter was still a little girl. On her daughter’s finger sat a beautiful yellow and black butterfly. My friend couldn’t remember even taking that picture so long ago.

Her sweet girl grew up and just 2 years ago she ran into the arms of Jesus.

The very next day, while outside taking care of her 145 pound dog’s business, a beautiful yellow and black butterfly, an EXACT replica of the one in the photo, gently lit on the fence beside her. As if to say, “Hi Mom! I’m great!” Then off it flew. My friend NEEDED that on that particular day because her daughter’s homegoing day was approaching.

It goes to show that in the middle of the messiest of things, God will send a beautiful message. Sometimes you just have to look beyond a dog’s “business.”

So, in honor of Josiah’s birthday this week, just for me, God sent a hug with suction cup feet. I swear that it smiled and winked at me.

My Prayer For You

“Thank you Heavenly Father for Your own personal way of reminding us that You are here with us in the very darkest days and each day in-between. Please help us to keep our eyes open to see your miracles around us in whatever way You present them, in order to bring comfort to our Mom hearts. In Jesus’ Name”