First Steps


My girls are growing. (Actually my boy is growing too, but he's already so big, it's not quite as noticeable). But my girls, they are changing before my very eyes.

For one thing, Lillie is gaining teeth while Sophie is losing them! Poor Lillie was toothless for ever-so-long, then finally got her two bottom teeth, but for months, she's sported huge swollen bulges where her two top teeth should be. All of a sudden, her two rather large (rather Will-looking), top teeth have broken through, and another top tooth is on its way! At this rate, she may have a full set by Christmas! And though Sophie's been claiming to have a lose tooth for at least six months, she finally lost her first tooth just last night! I can literally see how my girls are growing just by looking at their little mouths.

And it isn't just teeth. My laid-back Lillie, who seemed liked she'd never sit up strong, then didn't seem to have much interest in crawling, decided she was ready to go mobile. About two weeks ago she decided to give it a try, and though for a few days she looked like a lame dog, keeping one leg tucked under her the entire time she scooted, before I could blink my eyes she was flying all over the floor! (Matt and I think she may actually be the most adventurous of our crew!) And Miss Lillie isn't finished. No, this girl has experienced a taste of mobility, and now she is ready for an adventure! I'm just not sure I'm ready for this, but I know that her first steps, clumsy though they will be are just around the corner.

And she isn't the only one. A couple of Thursdays ago, we were driving home from dinner when Sophie said, "Mama, Daddy, I think I need to become a real Christian tonight." Matt and I
looked at each other, not quite sure what to say. Soph has been thinking about asking Jesus to live in her heart since VBS this past June. She was very excited about all she was learning, but when it came down to letting him be "the boss of her life," thereby giving up the role she believes she currently holds, she decided she needed some time to think.

So she's been thinking for about six months now (probably while she was loosening that tooth). And then, out of the blue, driving home from her favorite meat and three, she decided the time had come. Of course, like so many parents, Matt and I believe this is an important first step in her journey as a Christ follower, and we wanted to be sure she really understood what she was wanting to do, so I threw a couple of questions at her, asking her why she thought she was ready. I wasn't quite prepared for what I heard.

"Mama, I just really want to be God's true child. I want to be on His team. I've been thinking about it, and I think I will be happier if I follow Him."

(To which, I interrupted, "Now, Soph, being a Christian doesn't mean..." And she interrupted right back...)

"Mama, I know that there will be troubles, but I think I will be happier if I go His way. I really want to be with Him forever."

Well, that was enough for me. Dabbing at my own tears, I listened as Sophie and her dad prayed a prayer asking Jesus to live in Sophie's heart. It was one of the greatest privileges of my life. I know she is at the very beginning of her journey. I know that, as she said, "there will be troubles," but I cannot ignore that my baby is beginning her walk with Christ. Just as I'm watching Lillie pulling up to standing, anxiously waiting to take her first clumsy steps, I'm watching her big sister standing on her own, taking her first steps in her journey with the Lord.

So tonight I am thankful for my growing girls. Even though it pricks my heart a little that they aren't tiny babies any more, I must remember that their growth is the answer to my many prayers. I am thankful for teeth, in and out, that remind me that my girls are healthy and growing. I'm thankful for scooting, crawling, and cruising that reminds me of the adventures God has planned for them. I'm thankful for the honor of hearing prayers prayed out of an earnest heart that has come to understand it's better to go "His way." I'm thankful that I get to be their mama. Most of all, I am thankful for first steps, for clumsy as they may be, they are the only way to begin to walk the very best journey.


I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Happy 31st Birthday!

Image
Happy 31st Birthday Matt! Most people say things like, "I can hardly believe it's been a year since we fill-in-the blank... My, where does the time go???" Well, I know where the time since your last birthday has gone. It's been right here backing over us like a mack truck! All I can think as I remember last Halloween is how has it only been one year since you were celebrating your 30th birthday by going to a Halloween bash designed for teenagers while Aunt Pam and I took the kids trick-or-treating in the rain? It seems like at least three years ago since you and I were in the house with a princess throwing a fit about something while Aunt Pam was on the front porch knocking on the door to let us know our dragon had just made himself throw up to avoid wearing his costume. Seriously. Are you sure you're not turning 35? Since this year has been oh-so-eventful, I thought it would be no problem to come up with 31 memorable moments from the past year! 1. Begin at the b...
Read more

She Never Stops Talking

Image
Sometimes when Matt is home for extended periods of time, as he was during the week of Thanksgiving, he has the opportunity to notice new things about our children. Not that he isn't connected to them - he is an amazing, hands-on, intentional dad, but the fact that he spends much of his time at work means that there are little "joys" his misses out on.  One of the little "joys" he misses most of the time is the opportunity to spend long periods of time in the car with our kids. (I attribute Matt's perpetual cheerfulness to this fact, but that is another story...) Over Thanksgiving, however, Matt spent all kinds of time in the car with our offspring, and he was stunned by the number of times Sophie said "Mama..." Now, she said it no more and no less than she normally does, but the fact that Matt was in the car and I was talking, or trying to talk, with him seemed to highlight how often the word that has become my name was uttered. Sophie has always...
Read more

Sophie's 8th Birthday

Image
Sophie had one of her most perfect days on her 8th birthday, and I loved that we were able to give her a dream-come-true day! She woke up to a birthday breakfast, but without our typical doughnuts because we were headed straight for the Franklin Farmer's Market. We showered her with art supplies and an Ariel birthday sign, and she was thrilled about all of them!  At the Farmer's Market, Sophie roamed around like the gypsy she is, thrilled to have $10 (instead of her usual $5) to spend! You can't imagine how much Sophie can buy with $10 at the Farmer's Market! When honey sticks are going for a quarter, that can make for a long day! It was hotter than blue blazes, and we'd brought Aunt Tori, Uncle Derek, Aunt Hope, and Zoe, so over half our crew had to head inside The Factory before Soph had finished her shopping, but not before we all enjoyed treats and lunch from Biscuit Love!  After the Farmer's Market, we all head to Honey's, a new candy ...
Read more