My experience raising my four kids has taught me that there are several commonalities that seem to come with certain age groups, despite gender and personality differences. One stage shared by my three sons and now my daughter is the love of consistency during the toddler and preschooler experience. Now I will say that while all of my childen experienced this need for consistency in this stage, two seem to have the need on an ongoing basis as a trait of their personality(but that would be another blog).

Kylie is our baby and so she is the last to go through the toddler/preschool milestones and stages. As with the others, we have learned over time that all flows best when we do our best to provide her an environment where she can anticipate what's coming or is prepared for changes before they occur. We also have her patterns down and we know her needs, and because we love her so much it is our desire to meet them as best we can. For example, we have learned that she must have the same blanket and pillow at all naps and bedtime and a "papi" (pacifier) as well. Once she has her favorite items she follows her ritual of laying her head on her soft pillowcase-less pillow, sticking her fingers and toes through her blanket and sucking on her papi until she drifts off to sleep..... that is after she is sang her three favorite songs and prayed with.

She has her wake up routine as well. Today as I lifted her out of bed, she grabbed her pillow and I grabbed her blanket just as she was asking me to be sure I got it while also reaching for it herself(so as usual she could lay back down with them in the family room to wake up slowly while being near.) With out thinking, as I was picking up her blanket, I answered her and said, "I know your needs." As I said it it hit me that God says the same to us in the Bible. And Just as I so desire to give me daughter her every need, God desires to do the same for us. 

He tells us in Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Not just some, he says he will meet all of them. How many times do we fret or worry, forgetting how loved we are and how much God desires to meet our needs and give us the desires of our heart if we delight ourselves in Him(Psalms 37:4).

I do love that my daughter still asks each time. It is a part of her routine and lets me know she still has that need. Just as she keeps her communication open with me, so should we keep a line of communication open with our heavenly Father, and then in his timing he will respond with the answer and supply our needs. It might be in a different way than we expect or picture, but is always what is best for us. What a beautiful picture of his love for us.

Have a good one,

Amy O'Donnell