Catastrophe, or Toilet Paper Craft Time?

It wasn’t Miss Scarlet, in the conservatory, with the candle stick. It was the baby, in the bathroom, with the toilet paper. My 10-month-old son has been crawling just three months, but he has become a master of mischief. He prides himself on getting into everything, climbing up anything, and chewing on absolutely whatever thing.
His latest magic trick was unraveling an entire roll of toilet paper from start to finish and tearing it into shreds all over the floor. This stunt was completed in a record seven seconds. My almost 3-year-old daughter, who happily witnessed the crime from the potty, must have read the astonishment on my face as I came around the corner, because she instantly and sensibly explained to me, “He’s just a baby, mom, he doesn’t know any better.”
My heart softened from dreadful shock to laughter. My son was exploring and, although I wouldn’t want to habitually clean up entire rolls of wasted toilet paper off the floor, it wasn’t murder. Besides, who could resist that heart-melting, jack-o-lantern grin of his, or the twinkle in his eye?
I am grateful for the perspective I’ve gained from having kids. They teach you when to let go of control just as much as they teach you the importance of maintaining it. Indeed, God gave babes these virtues to remind us through our journey what the truly important things in life are all about.
“At that time Jesus made answer and said, I give praise to you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have kept these things secret from the wise and the men of learning, and have made them clear to little children.” –Matthew 11:25
Instead of seeing a mess, by the grace of God and my children, I sat down on the bathroom floor and joined the homemade streamer fiesta. Who needs craft origami paper when you’ve got Charmin?