There are times in our lives as parents that we are really proud of our children. I have just experienced three days of such feelings.
It all started on Friday morning. I went into Cherish’s room to check on her, and she had just finished making her bed. I praised her for making the bed so well. Immediately her countenance dropped. She said, “Mom, I have done something wrong, and I need to tell you. I did something you told me not to do. I stood up on the bed and kept shaking my blanket to get it flat. I’m sorry I didn’t obey you. Will you please forgive me?” I told her I forgave her, and then I explained why we have a “no standing or jumping on beds” rule (safety). I told her I’d rather her have wrinkles in her blankets if that’s the best she can do while obeying.
I was SO PROUD of her! Her heart is so sensitive. (It is not a new thing for her to confess a wrong that I would never otherwise have found out.) God bless that dear child!
About two hours later, she was in a very hard situation, and she shone—because of her willingness to be obedient. Cherish and Andrew had been asked to be in a commercial, and they were just going to be “one of the crowd”. This terrified Cherish. Derek and I had asked her to do the commercial as a way to honor us. (The commercial is to promote someone/something Derek and I believe in.)
So, she and Andrew went to the filming to be “lost in the crowd”. However, due to a change in circumstances, Cherish was asked to act with the main character of the commercial. When the camera man asked her to take the role, she looked at me terrified but did what the man asked her to do. Though Cherish is naturally very shy when it comes to people, situations, places, etc. that she doesn’t know, she acted out of obedience and honor for those in authority. She completed the requests and was praised by several people.
She had graciously done what was asked. She told me later she didn’t want to do it at all and was so scared. That’s what makes me even more proud of her! Obedience—even when it’s scary. Honoring parents and those in authority—even when it doesn’t make sense. God bless that dear child!
Then, later that night, I found out that Cherish had won a coloring contest. AND, that she had won $100! $100! I was shocked! I ran to tell Cherish, and she acted like it was no big deal (humble). I kept restating how much it really was a big deal, because she had cared about our adoption agency and wanted to celebrate their 20th anniversary with them. She had colored the best she could for the contest and had won! I explained that $100 is a lot of money and she could buy a lot of things, etc., and she said, “Ok. I’ll share it with you.”
The point being, when she gets money, she shares it. She doesn’t hoard. Like when she had saved up a sizeable amount of money for our trip to China (her spending money), and she told Derek and me that she wanted to give it all to us to help with “getting Andrew and Hope”. Of course we don’t take her money, but she was serious. In her mind, when she offers it, it’s as good as done. Giving. Humble. God bless that dear child!
Then, Saturday came. She had her ballet and tap dress rehearsal and recital. I watched her intently (obviously). I noticed that she was more interested in the group being honored as a whole than standing out as knowing parts that the other girls (at various times) had forgotten. She kept her eyes on the other girls. She was much more interested in them all looking like they were together, even if it meant she forwent a split-second step. The group upheld. No individualized attention. That’s what she cared about. God bless that dear child for caring about others more that herself!
And, lastly, today. A little while back I had told Cherish about Locks of Love and about children who are unable to grow hair for various reasons. She couldn’t let it go. She wanted to give her hair away. I wanted her to wait and really think about it, because I didn’t want her to regret her decision—since her goal for the last two years had been to grow her hair “down to her butt”. Well, she remained focused. “Mom, I really want to make someone smile. I want to give my hair to someone who needs it!”
Initially I thought I had to put Cherish’s hair up in a bun for her dance recital, so I asked her to wait until after the dance recital to cut her hair. So, what happened? This morning before we left for the church service, she asked me to cut her hair. I told her I didn’t have time, but that today I would cut it.
God bless that dear child for caring so much about others!
Giving. Caring. Humble. Obedient. Honoring. What a precious child!
Giving. Caring. Humble. Obedient. Honoring. What a precious child!
Tap dancers:
Ballet dancers:
Hair washed and ready to cut:
The gift: over 11" of hair.
She can't wait to mail it in tomorrow and bless another child.
What. a. girl!
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