I'm Learning to Listen!

This morning was a difficult morning. Missie Lou was frustrated with school as was Duh-duh. I was frustrated with them as well, and ended up sending Missie Lou to her room. But then, as the emotion wore off a little, I started to wonder if there was more to Missie Lou's little tirade than just rebellion or disobedience or just "I don't want to do school!" So, I went in and talked to her. She was pouting and I sat on her bed and patted the place beside me and said, "Sit by me!" It took her a while, but I didn't ask her again. I just waited and eventually, she came, though with her back toward me and arms crossed. I asked her if there was anything on her mind. Yeah, she's only five years old, but I'm discovering that this little girl is rather complex and things tend to bother her. I'm learning that I need to probe and listen to my children's hearts, not just to what their actions seem to be telling me. Once again, it took her a while, but she eventually told me that the neighbor girls had told her that I loved the babies more than I loved her. Now, this had come up before, some time ago, and I'm not sure if the girls were continuing to say this, or if Missie Lou was still hanging on to it from way back then. It doesn't matter really, since she's still dealing with it. So, I began telling her all about the day we met her, there in the hospital. She had that head full of dark hair and dark eyes and we just fell in love with her. She was our gift from God. And we chose the prettiest name we knew to give her. She listened and asked questions. Soon, she was in my lap with her head on my chest and her arms around me. It made me angry to think that my daughter was believing the lies of the neighbors instead of believing in our love for her, but I just had to think myself of how often I believed the lies of the Enemy, doubting God's love for me. I'm not sure how many more times I'm going to have to reassure her of our love for her, but I'll do it as often as I have to.

Isaiah 43:4-5 "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you... Fear not, for I am with you;"