Lessons from the Father...

These days, you'll most often find me hovered over my laptop writing the new series for Church 4 Chicks. I've really enjoyed the posts over at the C4C Blog, lately, and so if you've missed any of those, be sure to check them out here. We have been hearing from women from all over the world on the topic "Shine"--and how we, as children of our Heavenly Father, can allow our lights to shine--right where we are. 


Anyhoo...I'm doing so much other writing right now, and trying to get back into the swing of things after a much-too-quickly-gone-by Holiday Season, that I wanted to share something from the archives. I wrote this when my Macey Girl was in the 5th grade--she is now a freshman in High School. Oftentimes I wonder if what I post will mean anything to anyone. Well, here I am, reading this four years later, and so glad I posted it back then. I would have forgotten this--and the lesson in it--completely.


Happy New Year from my Home to Yours,
Shelley


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Lessons from my Father

Yesterday was Awards Day at Macey's elementary school. When I got to the school I went to the Cafeteria where they normally give out the awards earned by the students. I have a 5th grader, and the only children in the whole room were much smaller than a 5th grader! I was able to find out where her class was, and entered the library quietly (because that is what you do in a library), and they had already begun. Fortunately, I got there in plenty of time to see Macey's entire class receive their awards, including her.


The thing is, she didn't KNOW I was there. I wanted so much for her to look up and see me there smiling for her and feeling the pride all parents understand--whether your child receives an award or not. We just feel proud of our children because they're our children. Because she didn't know I was there, she felt so sad--I could see it on her face. She felt forgotten, unseen, and alone in this special moment. I tried to get her attention, but she continued to look down.


Once the presentations were over and I was able to go to her, I wish you could have seen her face--it was one of those times when tears and smiles compete! When she realized I had been there all along, watching every bit of it, and participating with her, it totally made her day. She just wanted lots of hugs and lots of pictures taken! (And I was more than happy to oblige.) Before she saw me, she had been responding based on her perception, not on the truth...and then God reminded me how often I do this very thing. I'll not see Him or recognize His presence, so I behave as though He is absent, unaware, and disinterested in what is happening to me. I, too, can give into the belief that what I see equals what is true, and then become discouraged and depressed; when in reality, He has been there ALL Along!! Sometimes I don't even notice the ways He may be trying to get my attention, because I've already concluded He isn't there. What a lesson this was for me, and one I don't think I'll soon forget.