wHAT wILL sHE wRITE?

When I found out I was pregnant with each of my babies the first thing I purchased was a beautiful leather journal. I'm not a fancy scrap booker but I do love to gather memories, words and thoughts.  As each pregnancy progressed I tracked doctor appointments, gifts given, blessings bestowed.   

When my babies arrived I was a stickler about making each visitor write a message to the newest family member.  Occasionally I drag out the book and read their stories to my girls. We talk about their beginnings.  My goal was to write words of honor and legacy onto their souls.   My five-year-old is enthralled.  She loves her book. 

Last night we were sitting around chatting before bed while the eldest did homework and the youngest was drawing. She paused and said "Oh - I want to write this in my book like I did earlier.".  

Wait a minute. 

​I gave her a look.  "Are you writing in the baby book?"   My brow did it's furrowing thing.   Was she really scribbling in her baby journal?  Wrecking my labor of love?   

​"Go get the book". I said.  "I want to see it." 

​Her eyes welled up in tears and her voice squeaked out.   "I didn't want there to be blank pages". 

​She handed me the book and sure enough, she'd spent much of the day drawing in her baby journal. 

I took a deep breathe as God spoke into my heart.   He whispered.  It's her book you know?  

​​Here is a drawing she did of Mr. Grinch and his lesser known wife Mrs. Grinch.   That was me.  Mrs. Grinch.  Sigh. 

I gave her a hug.  I asked about her pictures.   We went through the drawings and labeled her work.  She talked about her people.  Big sister cuddling her as a baby got me. 

The journal is a good thing. The legacy and blessings are a gift. They are not a script for her future.  I was crabby because I was holding on to ownership of something that wasn't really mine. Truth is my daughter isn't mine either.  She's entrusted to our care for a time by her creator.  He has much better plans for her life and I hope the words she really listens to are His.  At some point I have to let go of the plans I have for my children and let them write their own story.  

​Last night my youngest was my teacher.  Happens all the time. I agree with the little one.  I don't want her book to have blank pages either.  I can't want to see what she writes.