The best present of all.

The best present of all.

     Went to church this morning. Adelyn loves church. "Fun church," she calls it. She also calls Jesus, "fun Jesus." Hilarious. Really, she loves church because she goes to a classroom where she plays with cool toys, and other kids. After church, she gets to play in a giant indoor playground. Think, Discovery Zone. Inside a church. It's pretty awesome. I mean, what church has a special door on the 2nd level, that opens to a slide, that spits you out in the middle of the indoor playground, on the 1st level? Oh, our church. And if it's nice outside, we play on the giant outdoor playground. Why wouldn't she love church?

     So, today was open mic day. The pastor explained that he wanted people to come up and say what they were most thankful for during the past year. We were running late, we checked Adelyn into class late, and we were just getting settled into our seats when I heard the voice of a little boy on the mic. A very sweet voice. Cracking ever so slightly as he spoke. He said this: "my parents just got divorced, and even though we don't have a lot of money, I'm thankful I could see all my family for Christmas." Ugh. I wanted to run up to that boy, and just--hold him. His words told me three things. "My parents just got divorced," meant, I'm sad. "And even though we don't have a lot of money," meant, I'm worried. "I'm thankful I could see all my family for Christmas," meant, he loves his family.

     Out of everyone that spoke, his words were the loudest. Made the most impact on me. Others spoke of overcoming addiction, financial troubles, divorces, homelessness, losing loved ones. So many hurting people. That's the other thing that struck me. The massive amount of hurt and struggle. But, I thought about that little boy all day. He's been on my mind. Him, his sweet voice, and his words.

     Adelyn refused to nap again today. It's a catch-22 with that girl. If she naps, she naps very late in the day, and then is up until midnight. Reading, singing, asking for pineapple juice. "Need some piney juice!" Piney. She's the cutest. If she doesn't nap, she is way whiney and cries a lot come 6 or 7pm. Anyways, she wasn't napping, and Tobin was, so I went in to read some books with her. That turned into "playing house." She pretends I am the child, and she is the Mama. She reads me a book, gives me a sip of piney juice, covers me with blankets, hands me babies and animals, prays, turns out the light, says goodnight, and leaves. Two seconds later, she opens the door, says, "good morning, did you sleep well," and the game starts over again. We had been playing for a while when Matt joined us. We all played for a bit, then this happened. Matt and I were laying on the floor, our heads propped up on a princess couch, and a giant brown bear, when Adelyn came and snuggled between us. Matt and I wrapped our arms around her, and cuddled her tight. I forget whether it was me or Matt that said, "I love cuddling together!" But, it was Adelyn's reply that just made me want to cry. "It's the best present of all." What two year old says that? Us cuddling together. That's her definition of, "the best present of all." She amazes me.

     Children speak the truth. The words of that sweet little boy were raw and honest. It wasn't that he wanted to get up and just say something into the mic. He had learned something through the pain of his parents divorce. He knew a truth, and he had to speak it. He was thankful.

     Being thankful literally changes the way you see things. I've experienced it. I am ever so thankful for my Adelyn. Who reminds me daily that love and happiness and thankfulness is the stuff of life. Children speak the truth. "It's the best present of all." Why yes. It is.