Letting Go

Have you ever had a child who underwent surgery, testing, illnesses - anything that caused you to worry without having any control over the situation?

Sitting outside on the clinic patio in the 80 degree sun, I waited for the nurse to come get me. The surgery was not a long procedure. We'd been in this position before, several years earlier with one of the boys. It's hard to let them go, even when you know it's for their own good.

When the surgery was first scheduled, my natural inclination was to worry. But I made a choice - I turned her over to God. She's His after all. As much as I love her, He loves her more. That's hard to imagine, considering the depth of my love! He would not and will not leave her. He wants what is best for her too. The cool thing is that He always knows what that is, even when I flounder for answers.

"Paula, she's waking up. She did well."

Of course, she did. She's her Heavenly Father's child.

Chicken Soup Moment

My daughter and I went to the Ohio State Dance Competition in Columbus, OH this past weekend. She dressed to the tilt for her Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers solo. She was beautiful! My baby looked so much older.

The big moment arrived. She posed on stage, ready to begin her tap number. The music began, and it ended just as quickly. For just a brief moment, I saw a look of panic cross her eyes. What do I do now without music? She made a choice, and her smile never faded as she danced the ENTIRE dance without music. Everyone in the ballroom cheered for the dancer dancing to her own tune.

It took a lot of courage for a young girl to get up there to dance, but to do it without the music - that was brave! And then, she did it again! This time the music played properly. It was difficult to do AGAIN, but WOW! She did it!

I told her that I would have to write this story. It's just one of those Chicken Soup moments that I will never forget. It brings tears to my eyes now to think of my little girl up there being so mature.

Thank you, God, for revealing a part of your character in her that night.