gut laughs in the backseat

During the holidays, I'm always driving back and forth to my parents house for various festivities. And with three children, the backseat is f u l l. 

I have bags, diapers, backup outfits for each child (because every good mom has that in her car), food, my purse, coats for everyone, and winter gear. Needless to say, the car is truly and utterly full. I can't tell you how many times I make multiple trips in and out of my home or destination for loading and unloading stuff. 

It was one of these many trips where I learned a valuable lesson about the Lord.

Driving along, my seven month old son had developed this ever-so lovely scream that truly makes your neck muscles clench. It is divine. And the other side of that divine ability is that my three year old son loves to screech back and make his baby brother laugh. It was one of these thirty minute car rides that seemed a lot longer, where my two boys decided to do this scream-screech back and forth in the backseat. 

At first, my daughter (10 y.o.) and I were rolling our eyes at them with a gentle reminder, "Boys, not too loud...(in a pleasant voice)". But then, as the scream-screech evolved, it became the scream-laugh-screech-laugh. And I will tell you it was infectious.

My daughter broke first. And before I could say another warning word, I was laughing. Everyone was laughing.

We had all lost our minds. Laughing at these horrible sounds. Over and over again.

And it was then that I realized, this is what every parent wants. 

My kids are taken care of and they should be able to experience happiness. They should be able to laugh and enjoy life. I work so hard for them so that they can enjoy...

And it was almost a whisper from the Lord, "this is what I want for you, daughter."

And before I knew it, my laughter had changed to a smile, which ended with a grateful heart.