She wakes from her nap before she is ready. I’m trying to make dinner and she pushes her body between me and the stove a dozen times. I ask her over and over to move. I warn about burns and ‘hot’ and I distract her and I even turn on ‘Dora’. She will not be moved. She stands there and she is as stubborn as her mamma. We are both determined to have our way.

She is two and often lately I’ve thought about how fast she grows and how fast she changes and how I don’t want to miss a minute but here I am hustling her away and ignoring her.

I sit, before the stove, on cold terra-cotta floor. Little girl curls into my lap and lays her head on my shoulder. We both relax in embrace and we stay that way while the full pan of prawns burn in garlic butter, meat and potatoes grow cold.

All I can think is how I’ve finally figured out how to manage time wisely. Learned how the very good gifts He gives must be tended with great care. How even fine things can distract us from the best things. How I long to live His best…and embrace all the best things he has given me.