Bear Finds A Home

   It was the Christmas of 2016 and the place was over the hills and through the woods.  The little girl was just shy of her second birthday.  The small pile of presents had come to an end with one more gift for her to open.  As she tore one end of the wrapping, There was no mistaking the delight as she grabbed the head of her new bear friend and freed him from his cage of paper. She immediately tucked him under her arm and headed for the tree with all the pretty things.  In an attempt to help her look at the bear, someone reached out to help her and touched the bear.  She had been slow to verbalize with words but the look of her face when someone else dared to touch HER bear was unmistakable. Her serious glare was a clear, "NO! You did not just touch MY bear."
   She clutched her bear tighter and continued on to the tree.  Not sure what her intentions, we just watched.  She moved the suitcase from under the tree to create a small bench.  She struggled to get her bear situated right on the edge of the case and facing the tree.  Once she was sitting right next to her friend, she pointed at the tree and said, "Bough bough."
   She took ornaments one by one off of the tree and put them in bear's face, obviously telling him the stories of each memory.  We all sat there captivated by her interaction with her bear.  No one else existed. Just her and "bear."

Daddy and A Broken Heart

Daddy gets practice with wisdom! 

   The other day, I was at a pageant.  As adults, we know there will be winners and losers. It is a lesson of life.  Tender hearts are crushed while others are validated and celebrated. 

   With my camera in hand, I watched the extraordinary moment. Of course, you have some say, "Suck it up, Buttercup."  "Better luck next time." "You are a winner." But not this dad!!!

She went out with a goal in her heart, and she came back crushed.

He held her softly and sheltered her feelings the best he could.

He just listened to her words with no verbal response.

He wiped her tears and spoke to her heart.

 Then he let her cry all over again as she hunted for understanding.

 As I watched this man, I thought of all the tender moments he will have to shape and mold this tiny heart to follow after the Father's heart.  To know that HE is there for her whatever she faces.

 I prayed for this man to have wisdom as she grows.  We all know that life gives us a great deal more to cry about, to understand, to take hold, to conquer, to be disappointed.

It doesn't matter what the world tells us with all their accolades and accusations; it matters what the FATHER thinks and says about us!