Thursday, January 16, 2014

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Oy.  Nothing like the flu in our home to make me appreciate health.  Art's been hit with it, and he so lovingly passed it on to me.  I am praying that it stops here, and doesn't make it's way to The Girls... Although last night, Ellie Mae kept asking me to kiss her, because she wanted to be sick.  "I like being sick..." she says... Silly girl.  Nothing fun about puking your guts out on the driveway because you can't quite make it to the house.  Lovely.

As I've watched my Girls over the last few days, I have been oh, so thankful for these 4 little ladies.  I remember when the Girls were little, and every so often, listening to them talk to each other, and being mortified of how they spoke to each other.  And then it hit me.  "They sound like their mother.  Like me.  This is how I speak to them." 

Nothing quite like that to give me a quick dose of humble pie.  I didn't like to hear it with them, and so, I must first change it with me.  Because these little girls are modeling what they see and hear from their mama.  From me.  From my flawed and imperfect and impatient, selfish self.  Now that's not to say that I'm not still flawed and imperfect and impatient, selfish and sometimes far too vocal.  Because I am.  But my hope and prayer is that my little girls, who are rapidly growing up (good heavens, I have a teenager now!) will also see love and grace and compassion flowing from  my mouth.  And my heart.  And that they will learn these traits to be of utmost importance.  And over the last few days, I've been on the receiving end of their compassion.  And love.  And grace.  And willingness to help.  And I've been so thankful.