We're Learning!

Several weeks ago Micah and I made a stop at the store for groceries. While there, Micah asked if we could look at the toy section for an "eensy weensy bit." He had brought along his saved up allowance money and was hoping to find something special. We looked through all the aisles, but found nothing spectacular enough on which to spend his crumpled up bills. Then, we stopped in the book section. There it was. An Angry Bird doodling book. ONE Angry Bird doodling book. Those of you who know Micah's sister Esther know that the only thing she enjoys more than Angry Birds these days is drawing. Combine the two together and it is her dream come true. Micah counted his currency. Yes! He had enough for it. My Momma heart was conflicted. Micah saw it first, he had enough money, and it was something that he would enjoy. And yet, I knew that the book screamed, "Buy me! I'd be a perfect gift for Esther's birthday!" With little expectation of Micah being willing to part with his newly found treasure, I asked, "Micah, you know, I think Esther would really like that book. The problem is there is only one copy in stock. What do you think about letting Mommy get that book for Esther, and we'll check back in a few weeks for a new one for you?" Micah hesitated, just for a few seconds, and said, "That's find. Esther will LOVE this!" There in the brashly lit aisle of the big box store, my heart shone with gratitude that my little boy is learning the truth of these verses from Phillipians 2 - "3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

More Than A Choice

I just hugged my nine year old daughter for the last time.
Tomorrow I will hug her again, but for the first time as a ten year old.

Tomorrow we will celebrate her birthday with an Angry Bird themed family party. We'll eat cake, she'll open gifts, and we'll spend some time marking the fact that our daughter's age is in the double digits.

Tomorrow, a woman far away will be remembering that ten years ago she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl to whom she would say good-bye shortly after saying hello. She made a choice to allow her little girl to be born. Born to leave her arms, and to enter the arms of strangers. Our daughter's Birth Mother knew that the choice wasn't truly hers, it was God's. I don't surmise this, wish this, hope this. I know this. I know this because we were blessed to be told this from our daughter's First Mommy's own heart, through her own words.

Tomorrow, as we laugh and clap, and sing and play, a part of our hearts will cry for the pain another is knowing. And yet, together we with her, rejoice in knowing that our little girl is much more than a choice.