I cried over a broken teacup today. 

The kitchen was loud and my patience was worn down from giving reminder after reminder of house rules we all know but they were just not wanting to follow. 

Slow down, no running inside—you could get hurt. 

Please stop reaching up high, the oven is hot. 

We don’t throw things in this house, something could break. 

Then shatter. 

A piercing crash and immediate toddler tears. 

I rushed over to find that amidst our very loud, busy home, off in the corner of the room, the newly walking, curious 1-year-old had somehow opened the china cabinet door. Which was cleverly blocked (apparently not so well) by the leg of the kitchen table. 

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At her feet, my grandmother’s china teacup was in pieces. 

Immediately, I checked to make sure she was OK, and thankfully, her tears were more from fear of the loud crash and my shouts about not moving a muscle to the now frozen in place toddlers. 

My tears, however, were hot and fast as I felt defeated, frustrated, and guilty for the now broken treasure. 

I cleaned up the mess as I loudly warned the house that this is what happens when we don’t slow down, and we rush,  and we are not careful. 

My mom called as I closed the garbage can on my grandmother’s broken china cup.

I answered, immediately sharing my frustration when she asked me how I was and what was going on at our house. 

Then I heard her say, “Your mama must have been smiling down on you all then. That there were more cups and that she must have enjoyed watching the hustle and bustle from Heaven.” 

I cracked. My perspective switched from frustration to relief and peace. 

I imagined my mama looking down from Heaven on our very loud, busy house with all three little ones dancing and running around, crayons and papers all over the floor. 

I could almost hear her whole body giggle and see her wide smile and twinkle in her eye.

She would love my little, loud, creative, messy babies to pieces. 

My mom knew just what I needed, and it was her perspective that instantly changed the moment. 

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The best part is that the switched perspective has followed me into the next uncontrollable moments of life, and instead of spinning out in stress, I felt the warmth of my mama looking down from Heaven, and it was just what I needed time and time again.