bumps and bruises

This is a whole new adventure. Jarom has become our little adveturer and explorer and of course taste tester. Among all his adventures and explorations, he has to make many stops along the way to taste all the interesting artifacts.
The hardest part about this stage is knowing what I'm supposed to do. Of course the smiling and laughing comes natural but what about when I see him holding onto the edge of the couch reaching for the next object to help him stand? With my mommy eyes I can see that it is just a little too far out of reach where the likely outcome will be a faceplant right in front of it. Do I let him reach? Do I let him fall?
This morning my little man was off on one of his adventures exploring how his carseat works if he climbs in it all by himself. He went tumbling over. Cries came and then were calmed in the comfort of mommy. With this experience I started to think more about my role as a mom. These thoughts turned me to the examples of the greatest parents of all, our heavenly parents.
It's hard to watch Jarom fall and I worry that he will get bumps and bruises but I've had a few of those and they've gone away. The Lord lets us fail sometimes so we can feel the joy and happiness of success. I love watching Jarom stand, reach, stop, analyze, and start all over again and then he steps forward and stands in his destination place. Such great joy and excitement runs through me to see him grow and achieve. I think those feelings are the very same that the Father has for us. He doesn't enjoy the pain of our bumps and bruises but He cannot stop the trials that bring them because He understands that they are essential for our learning and our growth. But what he can do is comfort us. He has sent His son to run to us in everytime of need. There is not a pain he cannot ease nor a bruise he cannot fade. If we will but be like little children and reach up to those arms that are there for our comfort there is not an adventure or exploration that we cannot succeed in.
I know that these arms are here for me in this adventure of mine to let Jarom learn, to explore, and sometimes fail. As I will be there to comfort him so will my Father and Savior be there to comfort me.