A Lint-Sized Scratch

Let me tell you about how my 3-year-old son almost took me all the way out the other day.

He was doing what he does best—running, jumping, pretending he’s faster than a speeding bullet. One second he was flying past the couch, and the next—BOOM. He hit the floor.

Then came the scream.

I’m talking blood-curdling, “somebody call 911” type of scream. I ran over expecting the worst. I just knew there was blood everywhere. But when I finally got him still enough to look…

It was a scratch.
A baby scratch.
Smaller than a piece of lint. I wish I was joking.

And still—he wouldn’t let me touch it. He screamed even louder if I tried. And then somehow, his energy jumped into me. Next thing I know, I’m yelling.
“Let me see it!”
“Stop moving!”
“Son, you’re FINE!”

Now he’s crying. I’m yelling.
We’re both trippin’.
No blood. No stitches. Just noise and nerves.

The Real Issue

Later, when I finally sat down—and yes, I needed a full “mama timeout” in the bathroom—I had to ask myself: how did we get here?

And the answer hit me: I didn’t stay calm.
I let his panic pull me out of peace.
And to be honest, it wasn’t even about the scratch. It was about me being overwhelmed. Stretched. Tired.

I overreacted to something small because I was carrying things that felt heavy.
And right in the middle of that moment, the Holy Spirit brought this scripture to my heart:

Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Whew.

I stirred it ALL the way up.
And what would've happened if I had just paused instead of panicked?

Grace in the Chaos

That little scratch turned into a big moment for me.

It reminded me that just like my son, I can get loud when things don’t feel right. I can let fear take over. I can cry over things that aren’t actually that deep.

But you know what? GOD never reacts like I do.
HE doesn’t yell back.
HE doesn’t roll HIS eyes.
HE stays steady.
HE gives me grace.

That’s the kind of parent I want to be.
That’s the kind of woman I want to be.

Next Time…

Next time he falls — and I already know there will be a next time — I’m gonna try to breathe first.

I’ll try to bring peace instead of panic.
I’ll try to be the safe place in the storm.
And I’ll remember that sometimes, it’s just a scratch — and it’s not worth losing my peace (or my voice) over.

We’re both growing.
Him and me.
One little scratch at a time. 💙