Philippians 4:8, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The sun was peeking through the blinds. Dust motes danced across the streaks of light in my bedroom. These were the things my foggy brain witnessed as my eldest daughter was aggressively poking me in the arm to make me rise.

A most unpleasant mood began to smoother my soul as I was prematurely awoken from my sleepy slumber. She was rambling. On and on her she went as her words bounced from her mouth to my head. I hadn’t a sweet clue what she was rambling about, but it was of great concern to her little heart.

She was waving a book order form in front of my pillow creased face. Oh, that comic book form thingy you brought home from school. Yes child, may I please arise from my bed? She had raided her precious little pink piggy bank in search of the right amount of coins to purchase the coveted how-to-draw book. Her eyes were growing brighter and danced while she continued to ramble.

I then noticed she needed to be at the bus stop in ten fleeting minutes. In a flurry of activity, I grabbed her lunch bag from the fridge while she lowered herself to the floor to pull on her shoes. As she whipped her bright blue coat over her head to find the arm holes, she continued to ramble about said comic book form thingy. I am almost certain I inquired whether or not she had indeed brushed her teeth three times. To my own admission, she answered every time. I was not listening.

I lost my temper and snapped at my child that she was going to miss the bus if she did not move herself quickly to the other side of the street. With her bright pink, oversized backpack settled upon her shoulders, she made her way out the door and down the black driveway.

I stood on the other side of the front door and watched her as she walked. She looked so tiny in that long blue coat and big backpack. Her soft brown hair swept itself across her cheeks and she strutted against the wind.

And in that moment my heart began to beat faster with the stirrings of conviction. My inquisitive, imaginative, and most creative child walked with confidence… proudly clutching that comic book form thingy in her tiny little hands. Within it a series of coins rattled against each other signalling a promise to her little ears of what was yet to come.

Tears came to corners of my eyes as I reflected upon my harsh tone that most likely wounded her tender soul. In that moment I knew I was to be vulnerable to my Saviour and hear Him honestly as he prompted my spirit to correct my mistake.

I snatched a jacket from the hall closet and ran outside in my pyjama’s and slippers. I called out my child’s name as I trailed behind her. As providence would have it, the bus was running behind and I had been gifted a precious moment to lower my head to my daughter’s ear and whisper my sweet sorries. She replied with a wide smile and typical, “It’s ok Mom.”

I stood with my neighbour and we chatted as the children lined up one by one to board the bus. As we watched the yellow bus blur itself against the grey sky, she turned to me and shared a most lovely story of how The Lord once again was working all thing together. Her joy was a blessing and gift to me this day, and I was able to share with her a truth that I felt The Lord needed me to confess to her ears.

As I lifted one tired foot in from of the other and made my way back home, a thought settled itself upon my heart. Just like my daughter, I too walked with confidence while proudly clutching a truth that rattled my heart signalling a promise of what was yet to come: God can take our negative and turn it into a positive. We just need to be paying attention when He nudges our soul to be vulnerable to His leading and submissive in His call to move.

Father, help us to be vulnerable to your prompting. Help us to move when we hear you speak. And help us to lay our pride down in order work all things together for those who love you so dearly. Amen.

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