Save the Giraffes

Every other week, when we have communion at church, I retrieve Lilla from her class and take her into the service. On the walk back we begin to discuss why communion is important, why we take it so often, what the significance is in the memory and why it is important to be calm and quiet so others can repent, pray and have time with God too.

Last week, as we joined the line moving toward the altar, our conversation went something like this:

Me: Do you remember why we take communion?

Lilla: To remember Jesus died.

Me: Why did he die?

Lilla: To save us.

Me: And what does that mean for us?

Lilla: That we won't have to kill anymore giraffes.

Me: That we won't have to kill anymore giraffes?

Lilla: Yes, because Jesus died so no more animals would have to die. We don't have to kill the giraffes anymore.

It took me a second to take it in, but as I did, I knew she was right, in her understanding. When Jesus died, it took away our need to have to sacrifice another animal, no more lambs or goats or doves would need to have shed blood to cover our sins.

"Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, he washed me white as snow."

As I knelt at the altar, tears filled my eyes as I thought "Thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ!" Because of it, the world will never be the same. And, I know Lilla and I and all the giraffes of the world are thankful for it today!

Formed

For Valentine's Day we gave Anna a 10 set of Play-dough. I know, not very exciting, but it's her latest favorite thing to do so we went with it.

She loves to bring the little yellow containers to me and have me open them one by one and make them into balls. She shouts out "ball!" as soon as I open my cupped hands.

Something I love about this experience is the new play-dough. Completely untarnished, still very soft and moldable, no stray dog hairs or mixed up colors, not stiffened by a top left undone, the only indentations are at the top and bottom where it had obviously once been a long strand and was cut to fit into said yellow container.

As we were going through this routine once again today, I started thinking about my girls and how their lives were like that play-dough. How fresh and how moldable and soft they were. How they had still been kept mostly untainted from the world. I considered what my hopes were for the impressions that would be left in their lives and how I could myself mold and shape these young beings. It is, in fact, a bit overwhelming to think of such a charge.

But then, I remembered a verse in Isaiah 64 "Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." And, I am brought to my knees again as God reminds me that although he has given me a great and important job with my girls, he is ultimately who is forming them. He is the potter, He knows the plans He has for them, He formed them in my womb, I am really just a vessel too.

I am ever so grateful He has chosen me and holds my hands and guides me as He continues to shape me...and my girls!

Here

Tonight as I was getting Lilla out of the bath I heard a "ting, ting, ting", I looked down and to my horror was one of those brand new pink and white sparklers from her ears. A normal person would just say, "Huh..", pick them up and put them back in, but remember, they are literally, one week old today. What does that mean? Not only are the holes new, those earrings are pointy. Like little bitty daggers, sharp enough to easily shoot a teeny, tiny hole through an unsuspecting person's ear. Eeek!

So, not wanting to rattle Lilla, I picked it up and tried, very unsuccessfully, to put that baby back in. I tried through the front, I tried through the back, I tried wiggling it in, I tried shoving it through, I tried any way of manipulating that stubborn thing that I could think of.

Nothing worked. Lilla was crying in pain, begging me to stop. Under normal circumstances, I would have, unfortunately, these circumstances are not normal.

First of all, I paid an ungodly amount of money to get these earrings in last week. I had no idea of that amount until it was all said and done and the lady told me the price. I had a mini stroke. If my husband had been home and realized that might be the only way, he may have said she's going one earring until her next birthday. The other thing, is I live in the country, I had to drive 45 minutes to get this done, I didn't want to go back. Selfish, yes, but I'm just keeping it real people.

For 10 minutes this went on until Lilla had just had enough and practically sprinted from the bathroom. I grabbed her little duck towel covered body, hugged her tight and asked her if we could pray about it. She said she would like that. We bowed our heads, prayed a simple, "Please help us do this Jesus." and went at it one last time.

The earring immediately went through.

Lilla looked at me and said, "See, Jesus can do anything."

ANYTHING.

James 5:13 "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise."

Pierced - Wordless Wednesday Post

One Special Day

Today we are celebrating

Her!

It's been five years since all 7 pounds, 7 ounces of her arrived with a bang. She came out all reddish with lots of dark hair. She's was firey from the start!

Lilla is more full of life, laughter and courage than any other five year old I've ever known. My good friend Carrie always says she's never known anyone like Lilla, and a truer statement has never been said. At her 5th birthday party this weekend she was the only one her age that had no trouble strapping on a vest and brandishing a gun, playing laser tag in a dark room, having the time of her life. The other kids her age were saying "see ya later!", but that's just not Lilla. She goes in haunted houses and laughs at the "monsters". Where she got that from, I've no idea, but I really do love it about her. She always says, "I don't have to be afraid, God is always with me."

And that's my prayer for her today, that He will always be with her. And she, she will always love and follow him. She will know His power, bring glory to His name and know He is really always with her. There is nothing to fear.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Happy 5th Birthday Lilla, we love you more than you could know.

Whatever

As the days draw closer to my peanut turning 5, she is getting more questions concerning what she would like for her 5th birthday. I started giving the old stand-bys, Barbies, doll clothes, books, movies...the normal response you'd get.

After one of these calls for ideas though I decided to ask Lilla what she might want. Yes, novel idea you know!

I must admit, her response surprised me, "Whatever Grandma and Grandpa get me will be just fine."

I actually had to take a moment to process. Whatever they get me. WHATEVER they get me.

No demanding. No long list. No toys r' us catalog filled with circles and X's.

My heart just melted as I realized what a heart of gratefulness looked like.

Isn't that what we all want from our children, our acquaintances and ultimately ourselves? I do. And I'm so grateful for a (very) soon to be 5 year old reminding me what it looks like.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Wordless Wednesday