Today, I really listened to the words in Pink's song, "Perfect." I am going to put some of the lyrics here, but I have modified them from the actual to avoid showing curse words. What I heard was the following:
Chorus:
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like your less than ------- perfect.
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing
You're ------- perfect to me.
Verse 2:
You're so mean,
When you talk, About yourself, You are wrong.
Change the voices, In your head
Make them like you Instead.
It reminded me of a conversation I had with 2 other mothers of 6-year-olds this weekend. One mentioned that her daughter had come home from daycare and told the mother that her (the 6-year-old's) belly was fat. The mother told her that her belly wasn't fat and that she (the mother) liked her belly the way it was.
The other mother went on to say that her daughter had come home from the same daycare in tears about how she needed to buy all new dresses because nobody liked her clothes. The mother asked the child if she (the child) liked her dresses and the child said yes, so the mom said, "Then who cares what anyone else thinks!"
Now you may be wondering how these stories and the song relate to my topic of thankfulness tonight. Well, both of these stories horrified me because these are 2 of Hannah's friends from school, and whatever they experience this summer is bound to show up in conversation/play when school starts. So the sweet innocence of childhood is fast ending for these girls and could soon end for my daughter as well. I am extremely blessed that Hannah's beloved Bubba (my mom) watches Hannah over the summer. I know that Hannah can be a handful, especially for a grandmother, and mom could use the rest, but she comes to play and care for Hannah while I head off to work during some of the most active hours of her day. That time that Mom spends with Hannah is allowing my beautiful child to enjoy at least a few more weeks of innocence, when she can continue to KNOW that she is a beautiful creation of God. She can avoid the negative talk of her peers and prevent the negative talk in her head. I know I won't be able to protect her forever, but for now she can enjoy her summer and I can rest easy knowing she isn't being beaten down... yet.
So, Today I am Thankful for Childhood!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
... for Quality Time!
So yesterday as I was trying to leave to head to calling hours for a member of our church, Hannah was lamenting the fact that I was leaving her yet again. She said, "But Mommy, I wanted to spend quality time with you!"
Let's set aside the fact that she was begging for my time (oh yeah, big guilt trip there) and start with the fact that she is 6 and is asking for "quality time!" I had no idea she had ever even heard the phrase. I asked where she heard that and she said she just made it up and then repeated she wanted quality time with me. That kid cracks me up!
Now for the guilt trip. It is true that I don't get to spend as much time with her as I should. She deserves more time and my best time. Sometimes, I am so exhausted from work I don't feel like doing anything, so she doesn't get anywhere near that.
So, tonight, after dinner, she was playing by herself and I asked if I could play with her. She actually started to refuse but then relented. So much for that quality time, right? No, in fact, we colored two pictures on the floor. Then she took before and after pictures of our pictures (the before was before we had written our names and the after was after our names were added, of course). Then, we looked at pictures from the movie "Brave" and I had to read all the captions. Then she started playing songs from my iTunes playlist, but she only lets me listen to the first few chords, so it sort of feels like a one contestant version of "Name that Tune." She even says things like, "Mommy, this is your favorite song," and then switches happily to the next song. Then we read 2 books. The second one she read almost completely on her own. Finally, we ended with about 15 minutes of "Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian" while eating a popsicle. Funny side note, Hannah has never seen this movie and she still told me to, "watch this! watch this!" at any scene she thought might be interesting.
So after a quiet evening with Hannah, I have to say that Today I am Thankful for Quality Time!
Let's set aside the fact that she was begging for my time (oh yeah, big guilt trip there) and start with the fact that she is 6 and is asking for "quality time!" I had no idea she had ever even heard the phrase. I asked where she heard that and she said she just made it up and then repeated she wanted quality time with me. That kid cracks me up!
Now for the guilt trip. It is true that I don't get to spend as much time with her as I should. She deserves more time and my best time. Sometimes, I am so exhausted from work I don't feel like doing anything, so she doesn't get anywhere near that.
So, tonight, after dinner, she was playing by herself and I asked if I could play with her. She actually started to refuse but then relented. So much for that quality time, right? No, in fact, we colored two pictures on the floor. Then she took before and after pictures of our pictures (the before was before we had written our names and the after was after our names were added, of course). Then, we looked at pictures from the movie "Brave" and I had to read all the captions. Then she started playing songs from my iTunes playlist, but she only lets me listen to the first few chords, so it sort of feels like a one contestant version of "Name that Tune." She even says things like, "Mommy, this is your favorite song," and then switches happily to the next song. Then we read 2 books. The second one she read almost completely on her own. Finally, we ended with about 15 minutes of "Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian" while eating a popsicle. Funny side note, Hannah has never seen this movie and she still told me to, "watch this! watch this!" at any scene she thought might be interesting.
So after a quiet evening with Hannah, I have to say that Today I am Thankful for Quality Time!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
... for Modern Transit!
This morning, I woke up in Baltimore. I had a relaxing morning (well, I worked but it was still relaxing not having to rush out the door) and left the room at 11. I had lunch and then got on a supershuttle heading toward the airport. My flight left Baltimore at 3 pm. Then, by 4 pm, I was back in Cleveland, watching Hannah run down the baggage claim area to greet me after a week away!
I traveled about 400 miles in about 50 minutes. Plus, I got to sleep during the travel. I'll bet it took a lot longer for my parents when they were my age, and certainly for their parents and so on. But luckily, I didn't have to take days to travel back.
Perhaps this is silly to be thankful for but I really missed Hannah. So, Today I am Thankful for Modern Transit!
I traveled about 400 miles in about 50 minutes. Plus, I got to sleep during the travel. I'll bet it took a lot longer for my parents when they were my age, and certainly for their parents and so on. But luckily, I didn't have to take days to travel back.
Perhaps this is silly to be thankful for but I really missed Hannah. So, Today I am Thankful for Modern Transit!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
... for Little Signs.
I have often felt God speaking to me through signs. Not the great signs of the Bible, but more mundane ones like a song or a friend calling at the right time. Once, I even got a message from a billboard sign. That is one of my favorites, since it was a confirmation of His approval for me to go throug with Hannah's eventual adoption. :-)
So yesterday I was watching a short clip from a tv program I find somewhat annoying. It's "How I Met Your Mother." It focusers too much on sex and I have never found any redeeming qualities to it. So why was I watching it, you may ask. Good question. I really just hadn't hit the button on the remote to change to something more interesting. I watched as the main character narrated about how the woman who had once left him at the altar was going back to the man she loved. Then, the scene flipped to him sitting in the front seat of her car asking her why she loved the other guy. She explained and then he told her he wished he could find that kind of love. (Let me just say my eyes usually start rolling at this point, because very few television programs seem to understand the kind of love that we can have with another human being and certainly not the kind that God has for us, but let's just move on.)
The scene was quiet for a few seconds and then the girl starts telling this story about how she once was pulled over for going 90 on a backroad, and she talked her way out of the ticket. The guy asked how and she said this (not word-for-word): "The cop swaggered up to the window and said, 'Girl, I have been waiting all day for you!' and I said, 'Sorry, Officer! I got here as fast as I could!'"
It turns out this didn't really happen but that isn't really the point. You see, I suddenly had a God moment. It was like He was telling me that I just had to be patient. That something was coming as fast as it could. Now, I have no idea what that something is. I can't say it is a person, place or thing. But I do know that in that moment, I was being told to be patient! That it was coming. That silly scene from that less than stellar show ended up bringig tears to my eyes. It reminded me of Psalm 37:7, "Be still(L) before the Lord and wait patiently(M) for him; do not fret(N) when people succeed in their ways,(O) when they carry out their wicked schemes.(P)"
So, Today I am Thankful for Little Signs!
So yesterday I was watching a short clip from a tv program I find somewhat annoying. It's "How I Met Your Mother." It focusers too much on sex and I have never found any redeeming qualities to it. So why was I watching it, you may ask. Good question. I really just hadn't hit the button on the remote to change to something more interesting. I watched as the main character narrated about how the woman who had once left him at the altar was going back to the man she loved. Then, the scene flipped to him sitting in the front seat of her car asking her why she loved the other guy. She explained and then he told her he wished he could find that kind of love. (Let me just say my eyes usually start rolling at this point, because very few television programs seem to understand the kind of love that we can have with another human being and certainly not the kind that God has for us, but let's just move on.)
The scene was quiet for a few seconds and then the girl starts telling this story about how she once was pulled over for going 90 on a backroad, and she talked her way out of the ticket. The guy asked how and she said this (not word-for-word): "The cop swaggered up to the window and said, 'Girl, I have been waiting all day for you!' and I said, 'Sorry, Officer! I got here as fast as I could!'"
It turns out this didn't really happen but that isn't really the point. You see, I suddenly had a God moment. It was like He was telling me that I just had to be patient. That something was coming as fast as it could. Now, I have no idea what that something is. I can't say it is a person, place or thing. But I do know that in that moment, I was being told to be patient! That it was coming. That silly scene from that less than stellar show ended up bringig tears to my eyes. It reminded me of Psalm 37:7, "Be still(L) before the Lord and wait patiently(M) for him; do not fret(N) when people succeed in their ways,(O) when they carry out their wicked schemes.(P)"
So, Today I am Thankful for Little Signs!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
... for the Faith of a Child!
Mark 10:13-16 says, "13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.(B) 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”(C) 16 And he took the children in his arms,(D) placed his hands on them and blessed them."
Right now I am on a business trip in Baltimore. I love this particular meeting but hate being away from Hannah. I know she is in great hands, but I also know how attached I am to that tiny little 6-year-old, based on how stir crazy I get on the second or third day of not seeing her.
Well last night it was confirmed to me that Hannah is protected by my sister and mother and most importantly by the Father. Jen called me to tell me a very special story about their prayer time, wherein my 6-year-old blessing from heaven became my sister in Christ. I assume that Jen will post the story on her blog since she was a firsthand witness to the event, so I direct you to "Enlightened Eyes," link: http://enlightenmyeyes.blogspot.com/
I am so thankful that God named her as His own and that she had that faith that Jesus reminded His disciples about. When I talked to her about it this morning, I told Hannah about the great party in Heaven that is going on right now in her honor. Luke 15:10 says: "10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(B)" When she mentioned the party to Jen, she called it a surprise party. I kind of like that!
So, Today I am Thankful for the Faith of a Child!
Right now I am on a business trip in Baltimore. I love this particular meeting but hate being away from Hannah. I know she is in great hands, but I also know how attached I am to that tiny little 6-year-old, based on how stir crazy I get on the second or third day of not seeing her.
Well last night it was confirmed to me that Hannah is protected by my sister and mother and most importantly by the Father. Jen called me to tell me a very special story about their prayer time, wherein my 6-year-old blessing from heaven became my sister in Christ. I assume that Jen will post the story on her blog since she was a firsthand witness to the event, so I direct you to "Enlightened Eyes," link: http://enlightenmyeyes.blogspot.com/
I am so thankful that God named her as His own and that she had that faith that Jesus reminded His disciples about. When I talked to her about it this morning, I told Hannah about the great party in Heaven that is going on right now in her honor. Luke 15:10 says: "10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(B)" When she mentioned the party to Jen, she called it a surprise party. I kind of like that!
So, Today I am Thankful for the Faith of a Child!
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