The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 28:7
“Can I give you an early birthday present?”
I was sitting on my bed trying to finish a proposal for work, and my husband made it very clear to our four children that it was “Mommy Out,” which in our family means you have to go to Daddy for everything. Yes, even if they get hurt. So when my ten year old daughter, Leah, came quietly into my room and asked me, “Can I give you an early birthday present?” I knew that it was something important that she had to share right away or she would not risk the consequences of breaking a “Mommy Out” time. Keep in mind this is different from a “Time Out for Mommy,” which I get as well for different reasons…
“Yes, you may give me an early birthday present,” I said with a smile, grateful for a quick break from writing the proposal, as well as knowing Leah must be feeling better to have made me a gift. She was suffering from the flu for the past two days and was content to be in bed for most of it.
“It’s a song,” she said sheepishly. I was extremely curious. My children have not often made up songs and remembered them long enough to sing them again, which in some cases, I am even more grateful. Case in point: The last song my children sang to me was titled: “Look at the Poop in the Toilet.”
Leah pulled out a piece of paper where she had written the words of a song, as well as swoops and curves to represent the up notes and down notes.
She sang in a pure and sweet voice these words:
It means the world to me to have my mommy read to me
It means the world to me to have my mommy read to me
I love the way I snuggle up with my mommy
It means the world to me
Means the world to me
I love my mommy
My mommy means the world to me
My happy tears did not go unnoticed by my daughter and she was thrilled with my praises of her loving words and how she made my nose “tickle.” Before I knew it, she was being called down by her brother for an episode of Secret Millionaire that was about to start, so she smiled and left, leaving me with the happy hope that every small choice that I make to spend time with my daughter means something. No matter how small it may seem.
God can use a song, the changing of a diaper, the writing of a book, or the smile at the end of a hard day to speak life into others. Use what gifts he has given you.
God uses even the small for His glory.
What small steps can you take today to show your daughter you love her?
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