Long dark hair fell across her face and her eyes flashed. Wiping furious tears from her cheek, she grit her teeth, and I watched jaw muscles flex and clench.
A homework assignment was aggravating her, and confusion masqueraded as fury. After several exasperated sighs, she suddenly stood up, shoving her chair back.
"Mom! Can I go do some devotions?!"
"Right now?" I wondered, "Don't we have a lot to do?"
"Mom, I just need some time with God. I need to do this."
Bleakness stood out against pale cheekbones. My daughter froze mid-bolt, pleading with her eyes.
I paused.
"...Sure, go ahead. Let's meet again in twenty minutes?" My words were barely out, and she was off, her door shutting behind her, a pink room disappearing from sight.
My daughter? She's smarter than me. She knows Who to run to, where to turn, when life feels raw. Because for me, I sometimes take too long to pause life and grab my Bible and journal. I often try to soldier on, with a bad mood firmly entrenched. Grumbling under my breath, quietly seething, or secretly dissolving into sadness before finally realizing my need --and it's Source-- I can leave casualties around me.
My daughter? She was smarter than me this week.
And that brings joy too.
(Photo Credit: Harry Rowed, Creative Commons, cc licensing)
15 comments:
Yep, you got one smart young lady there. :) Smarter than you? Leave me out of that discussion. Sounds like a no-win for me. LOL Good topic Jennifer. We can all take a lesson from her.
Both smart... I think, because you decided to learn from her :)
She is a reflection of you: a mamma who has taught her to seek out the Lord.
Wow. Amazing the wisdom she's learned from our Father through you and now she's living a life to remind you... God's amazing like that.
Good job, mom. It's true love and joy to watch our children do better than us and it brings joy to our soul.
She is wise because her mom and dad have taught her to be. You demonstrated the need to go to God long before her frustration with homework that day. She learned it from you.
Thanks for stopping in, Bill. It's always exciting to see our kids make wise decisions, huh? All the more so, when it gently reminds us of that choice too.
Have a great week,
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Hi, Marja. Thanks for joining in the conversation here.
May your week be going wonderfully.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Mary,
Ah, thank you. :) It's always thrilling to see one's children making wise choices that will bring them joy. And such a good reminder for me too on those days I forget. :)
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Thanks, Floyd.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Jayne,
Nice to have you here. Thanks.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Thanks for sharing the story. It's important for us to remember who to run to when we are frustrated, and I am learning that these days of instability in my country.
Thanks!
The lessons we learn when we weren't even aware we were in class ourselves are often the ones we remember longer - and keep the memory green. It isn't my first visit here, Jennifer, but it may be the first time I've commented - and it won't be my last. Good to read you here. :)
Zee,
I'm so glad you stopped in. Yes, knowing who to run to in troubled times is paramount! Thanks for stopping in.
Hmm, I'm instantly intrigued at your mention of instability in your region, and will need to hop over to hear more. I'm sorry. I've lived in regions like that around the world at times too.
Jennifer Dougan
www.jenniferdougan.com
Rick,
So nice to officially "meet" you. :) Welcome!
It's so true that often the lessons that form us the most are taught when we didn't even know we were learning something. Picked up on by people's actions or lives around us, most often,huh?
Nice to have you here,
Jennifer Dougan
www.jennifertdougan.com
How blessed you are Jennifer with such a daughter. I am with the others, I think she has learned a thing or two from her wise momma. Sweet post.
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