A Play on Words

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." Ephesians 3:20

With the whoooshing of the winter winds, along came the return to school this week. I get a bit melancholy when the children return to the routine, but this time, it was relatively seamless, for which I am grateful. Emily has struggled a touch this year with some medical concerns. The interruption of normalcy is sometimes greeted with resistance on the part of our fiery redhead, when asked to go back to the "way it was". So, I was tentative and optimistic when Monday morning rolled around. Hopeful was my heart that nary a nerve would be there.

Things were moving along peacefully, just as they should. We were even early getting into the car and heading for school. Traditionally, I pray with the girls on the way to school, but my mind was cluttered and my spirit preoccupied. As the girls ran to the car, Hannah insisted with great determination that she wanted to play with Emily and that she would miss her. I agreed. Hannah again visited the idea of playing with Emily. I explained with great detail all the reasons why they could not play together this week. On and on, I indoctrinated them with multiple theories on why school is so important...poor kids. Hannah sighed heavily and shaking her head, muttered about Mommy just not understanding.

Hannah is many things, above all of them, she is tenacious. Her "get what she wants" attitude often needs to be calmed and reasoned with. The Lord had laid on my heart to pray with the girls, but Hannah kept up her diatribe of begging to play with Emily. As long as it was this important to her, I conceded, and finally said to Hannah, "FINE, go ahead play with Emily. You have a few minutes before she gets to school."

With that, Hannah bowed her little head, folded her hands and followed with "Dear Lord, please protect Emily today. Stay with her God and help Mommy and I not to be sad when we miss her. Amen."

PRAY!

All along she had been asking to PRAY with Emily. She was right, I simply did not "get it!" I never cease to stand in awe of what our children will teach us. Maybe we need to listen a little closer, hug a little deeper, walk a little slower to be sure we are "hearing" our little ones. Emily was genuinely touched by her sister's thoughtfulness...a thoughtfulness that is buried some days in the depths of a heart that has taken literally two years to soften. But, on this, first day back, Hannah carefully searched her own heart to bless her sister. A nice way to begin a new year, don't you think?