Sometimes she concerns me.
She
can do a thing, but she doesn't really
want to.
She's always very polite about it, but is sometimes caught complaining nonetheless.
I never do catch her with
her nose buried in a book, anxious to learn about real-life people or far-away places.
And she doesn't care to flip the pancakes for Daddy on Saturday morning.
She's still learning that there is a time for everything, and that making people laugh doesn't buy you a pass for bad behavior.
She's feeling a little flirtatious with a little boy in Bible study.
And only bats her eyes at me playfully when I correct her about it, reminding her--even this young--of the value in virtue and purity. "Respect yourself," I exhort her, "Glorify the Lord."
And then my precious Jesus calms me. He shows me something sweet and wonderful to which this worried mother can cling. It's a moment that shows me that I mustn't try to pour this girl into her older sister's mold.
Because she has a different purpose, and a unique set of skills and gifts. She is merciful, and full of compassion.
And this day, I beheld those talents as they came together
and gave me a glimpse of the woman she may yet become--a light-hearted, humorous, affable, patient
teacher of others--full of joy and a delight to be around.
She can do a thing, but she doesn't really want to.
She's always very polite about it, but is sometimes caught complaining nonetheless.
I never do catch her with her nose buried in a book, anxious to learn about real-life people or far-away places.
And she doesn't care to flip the pancakes for Daddy on Saturday morning.
She's still learning that there is a time for everything, and that making people laugh doesn't buy you a pass for bad behavior.
She's feeling a little flirtatious with a little boy in Bible study.
And only bats her eyes at me playfully when I correct her about it, reminding her--even this young--of the value in virtue and purity. "Respect yourself," I exhort her, "Glorify the Lord."
And then my precious Jesus calms me. He shows me something sweet and wonderful to which this worried mother can cling. It's a moment that shows me that I mustn't try to pour this girl into her older sister's mold.
Because she has a different purpose, and a unique set of skills and gifts. She is merciful, and full of compassion.
And this day, I beheld those talents as they came together
and gave me a glimpse of the woman she may yet become--a light-hearted, humorous, affable, patient teacher of others--full of joy and a delight to be around.
15 comments:
The words of the late Keith Green come to mind: "Just keep doing your best, and pray that it's blessed; Jesus takes care of the rest." Simple words but lots of meaning.
That was LOVELY!
Thank you so much for that reminder. He makes them for His purpose, not mine.
How precious. As the personalities of my own two are emerging, I am frequently reminding myself that they will take different paths from each other...and that is okay. Thank you for sharing and reminding.
I think we all can relate to seeing little things in our kids that concern us from time to time. It's hard to see their sin natures as a reality when we we have worked so hard to mold them into what we think God would want them to be.
I have a daughter who is touhg as nails. Sometimes too tough. Somwtimes I would describe it as hardness. And then I saw her righteous indignation when a friend in the neighborhood was treated unjustly. And she handled it with graciousness as well as strength. And I saw that her strength could be used to defend someone not quite as strong. It has helped to relax and watch God's plan unfold.
I'm so glad that you can appreciate her different abilities so that they can be nurtured and used for the Lord.
How insightful! Yes, God has made each one of them unique and wonderful in his sight. Thank you for thinking so much about your children and thank you for leaning on our Savior when you are worried and thank you MOST of all, for sharing those thoughts with us.
They just look like angels in pictures, don't they?
:) Well said. I think I would have a hard time treating them differently, that's why God gave me a boy this time. :)
This was such a beautiful post, both in pictures and in words. Almost a work of art!
Your daughters are very blessed to have such a wise, patient mommy!
I really enjoy your pic's. Didn't you say it was a new camera? You have been putting it to good use. Treasure your treasures!
sweet and encouraging. You did a great job telling the story with words and pictures.
She is so adorable!
You take photos of some of the simplest things, GB, and yet they always move me. I love this.
I love the photos! I think sometimes what we see in our kids is exactly what God sees in our lives. Great post!
What a sweet post...and it's so true that we as parents have to remind ourselves while we correct and train...that each child is a unique creation, with a unique original play for their life that God would have.
And also, that sometimes we see that they are seemingly stuck in an area...then suddenly they start growing and blooming like they had miracle grow poured onto them...and then we are both proud of them and somehow mourning that they are growing up so fast!
Great post, with precious pictures!
Loved this post! Pictures are great.
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