The Parallels We Draw.
Last night I worked a party nannying for a family that was throwing a dinner party for several adults and their children. There was one other nanny there and our job was to keep the children out of the hair of the adults so that they could enjoy themselves and not have to worry about their own children. Easier said than done! WHAT a challenge! YOU try keeping children away from their mom or dad, who happens to be in the house – completely accessible.
Anyway, over the course of the evening something happened that struck my heart and hasn’t left me since. One of the little girls ran to me sobbing uncontrollably spewing out words that for the life of me I could not understand. However, once I got her to calm down in the comfort of my protective arms, the story came out. One other girl (keep in mind that the girls involved were probably around 6 years old) had said that the girl crying was ugly, not the most talented dancer, and certainly not the star of the show.. or something along those lines. To a 6 year old, devastating words.
Curled up in my arms, I began to whisper to her as tears streamed down her face. “Oh, sweetie, it doesn’t matter. I think you’re BEAUTIFUL and very talented and it doesn’t matter what they say about you at all, because I think you are WONDERFUL.” Over and over again, until she stopped crying and calmed down, I repeated these words in various ways.
And I saw it.. THEN it hit me. I pictured everything I ever felt about what someone said about me, I recognized my daily struggle with these things, my insecurities… this EXACT scenario (enter me in tears) … and then I pictured the Lord’s comfort and His words. I saw His whispering Truth to me…. BAM. Whoa.
“Oh, sweetie, it doesn’t matter. I think you’re BEAUTIFUL and very talented and it doesn’t matter what they say about you at all, because I think you are WONDERFUL.”
Working with children, especially sensitive little girls, gives me many opportunities to see the Lord’s tender heart towards us… Oh. my. WORD. I can’t tell you how many times I am near tears just because of His revelation of love through a simple exchange such as this one.
Time after time it becomes clear to me that You are still working on my heart, tenderizing me.
