Twirl

I was busy all day entertaining my father and my aunt who came down to visit us. It was a sweet visit. I cherish these times even more now that we are not close by. I really took for granted just jumping in the car and going to see my parents or hubby's parents. I am blessed beyond measure to have family that I love and appreciate. I wish I could box everyone up and bring them here to live within easy-peasy driving distance. I love family and I cherish the moments my girls have with our families.

After they left, I had my typical "after-being-with-family-Debby-Downer" moment, wishing they were here or I was there. Then I got on my computer and saw that I have so much to be thankful for today. I read that one family has lost a sweet precious 5 year old daughter and another has lost a sweet newborn child. I was quickly reminded how insignificant my longings are in comparison to what these families are longing for...to hold their sweet little ones again, to see their precious smiling faces again, to smell those intoxicating little heads again.

It is difficult to keep my mind focused on the grand scheme of things when I get caught up in, "Why isn't our house selling,""Why is the car making that noise again," "Why are living away from family????" I get weighted down and have a very hard time living in each moment. I don't feel like being joyful when I get so weighted down.

On Sunday morning at church the service was wrapping up in worship after a wonderful sermon on mercy. Two rows ahead of me was a sweet little girl around the age of 8. She stood in the center aisle, having a wonderful time singing and dancing. She was not holding anything back. She didn't care that everyone was watching her. She was praising her Jesus. She was full of joy. She even broke out into the full jumping jacks dance. It was so moving to me. I watched her and my eyes filled with tears as she twirled.

(Image via Flickr)

She was not weighted down by financial worries, longings for family, car problems. She just floated and worshiped. I long to be like this child. To praise Him and not be weighted down. To hand it all over to Him and twirl.

Tonight after hearing of the enormous losses that two families are grappling with today, it made me long even more to twirl before Jesus. To shout and praise Him and not take another moment with sweet little ones for granted. To get down on the floor and play more. To get the paint out more. To model a life of gratefulness before them. To show them everyday how to twirl.

"'Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the SIMPLICITY of a child, you'll never get in.' Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them." Mark 10: 14-16 The Message

I long to have child-like, unweighted, twirling faith.

I hope that someday my daughters can have this same little conversation from one of my fave movies, You've Got Mail, with someone but in regards to their faith and pure, divine love with Jesus.
Joe: Um, is that you in the photograph? What are you doing?
Kathleen: Twirling. My mother and I used to twirl.