It took me back to situation I watched play out one day with our Aly. See she has the outgoing older sister. The one who paves the way for her and for a long time made every decision for her. And as typical older sisters do even spoke for her!! What's easy for Isabella to give is hard for Aly to sacrifice. It's just a difference in personality. Isa will bare her soul anytime and place so you better be ready where Aly needs to feel very safe to share ......well anything.
It was the end of a school day in the office and with everyone rushing around in attempts to get the last student out of the building finish the last call and move on to the next thing I watched bravery rise up in a little 6 year old who barely talks to anyone. Our principal walked by at a very quick pace and Aly spoke out her name. My heart sunk for a second because I thought she wasn't heard but she then followed our principal saying her name one more time followed by a compliment......... "I really like your dress." Observing this valiant effort unfold from a small distance I was ready to scoop down and save her because, not being heard or being heard and dismissed would crush all the bravery that little heart had mustered up. This Momma knew the sacrifice that it took to give that compliment! It took everything she had. But I didn't have to scoop because her principal did. She stopped in her tracks to receive a gift from a child, a compliment, and at the moment her "everything". Aly's face beamed after that. I was so proud of her and extremely grateful for her principal all at the same time.
I believe one the reasons we struggle to value a "something" that is another's "everything" is because our pace is too fast and our goal too important. When our minds aren't full of what needs to get done and there's room left to see the people around us. That's when we win.
Will we stop today? Will we be brave today? Both take time, heart and a realization of what is truly important.
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| Mrs. Black Aly and Mrs. Nix |
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44New International Version
Thank you God that you stop for our brave moments. Thank you that you are not too busy to recognize and place value on us by giving us time.
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