Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Giving credit where it's due...


Those of you who know me have heard me talk about "sprinkling" my children.  I work hard to give them sprinkles along the way instead of flooding them with demands and rules.  (Back in 2011, I wrote this entry Mama's Treasures that explains a little about it just in case you're not familiar.)

As a wife, mother, daughter and friend, I'm a frequent prayer (pray-er not prayer).  From the moment the alarm jolts me to reality at 6 a.m. there is a constant whisper from my heart to Gods ear.  There are some days I wake up and someone is on my heart/mind and I whisper an extra little prayer for them.  You never know who needs it!

Okay, perhaps now I can get to the point.  My A #1 Angel Girl graduates with her associates degree next Sunday.  Wow, the last two years have completely flown and I have to say I'm really proud of the woman she is becoming.  But that's not without a lot of sprinkles and prayers.  The sprinkles are a little harder to share these days because not having her here makes it more difficult to start some of those conversations.  I'm afraid that all too often they come out sounding more like nags, complaints or heaven forbid overbearing.  The last two years have been chock full of things like-
  • don't take 8:00 classes your first semester
  • don't take 18 hours your first semester
  • logic will eat your lunch
  • make good choices, you never know how the bad ones will come back to haunt you
Then there were the personal sprinkles that are just between her and I.  Some she heard, some she cried about later as she realized that Mom isn't so far removed that she doesn't know.

Most recently we've been working through helping Anna work toward moving into an apartment (or other rental property) this fall when she begins her new journey at the University of Arkansas.  There has been a virtual flood of sprinkles and prayers flying so swiftly on her behalf I'm surprised I haven't developed whiplash!  Then a few days ago, I was having a rare moment cooking dinner when there wasn't a thought in my head other than guacamole and tortillas for Cinco de Mayo when suddenly my phone chimed.  I reached for my phone thinking "oh Anna" and saw a Facebook message from God.

Now before you go thinking I'm crazy let me explain.  I mentioned that I've been saying just a couple of prayers for Anna and her transition to a more independent life-well God answered in the way He does when we take time to listen and more importantly give credit where credit is due!!  This message was disguised as being from a friend, not just any friend but a friend of our family that I can not remember a time I didn't know them.  A family whose face was right there with my family at church every Sunday growing up, my mom taught their kids in Sunday school and she has been like a proud mamma watching them grow hearing stories about their lives and the people they have become.  We weren't the "see each other often" kind of friends as we both moved from that magical town but there were weddings, birthdays, anniversary parties, memories and prayers; then Facebook came along.  I saw the name, friend requested and said a little prayer of thankfulness that this sweet family that had been in my heart all these years could now blossom with friendship rekindled.

The message simply began with "Hey, we've got a 2 bedroom...." and from there it was apparent that all those sprinkles, all those prayers were answered.  The talks I've been crazy blessed to have the last few days with Anna have been true treasures.  Listening to a new found maturity and her feelings of empowerment that yes she can do this have been awesome.

For now, I'm going to keep on sprinkling and praying because so far I have loved the beautiful woman that is blossoming and I so look forward to the incredible woman she will be....complete with strong roots!!  (The picture below is a photograph I took of my Mother praying at the rail after communion on Living Waters Children's Sunday 2013.)  I'm so crazy blessed to have a Mother who prayed for me, thank you Momma!



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