More Than You Know
When Ardyn was two, it was her part time job to attend little league games. More evenings than not, she was at the ballpark watching both brothers bat and throw and run and score. She tolerated my steady supply of apple slices and pretzel sticks when what she really “needed” was a couple ring-pops.
Besides spectating and snacking, there was the very serious task of keeping a watchful eye on her “baby thith-tuh” Ashlin who was strapped into an infant carrier. With all these responsibilities, it is a wonder she found any time to play.
But one particular night between games, she joined a group of boys her age to roll cars in the dirt beside the dugout. After just a few minutes, she came running to the bleachers crying. Evidently one of the boys had thrown a car and hit her in the stomach.
She seemed to be in just as much shock as she was pain. She had played cars with her brothers and they had never hurt her. Did these kids not know or care that she was a princess? Had they no regard for royalty??
We got her dusted off, settled down and finally made it home safely for baths and bed. But around two o’clock a.m. she cried out for me, frantic and distraught. Kneeling at her bed, I wiped teary strands of hair away from her flushed face. Apparently traumatized by the evening’s events, she dramatically sobbed, “They hit me in my belly!! …and Jesus, too!!”
*May it be known: we are joint-heirs over here, people. You do it to us? You do it to Him too.
***
I found this little memory earlier this week written in an old spiral I had boxed up years ago. I shared the scribbled journal page with Ardyn and we both got a good laugh. She has always had confidence in her core valuability, and I must have said it a thousand times, “Jesus is with you wherever you go.”
Several hours later she and I found ourselves in the midst of a tender conversation with some friends. We were talking about the challenges of caring for the physical needs of terminally ill loved ones … how grace propels sacrifice and increases capacity and sustains strength in unbelievable ways. One woman humbly confessed, “I just did what I could …”
I caught Ardyn’s eye across the table and with a soft smile of revelation, she silently mouthed the truth, “...and Jesus too.”
Emmanuel. God with us.
Whether we feel bullied or burdened, He is with us and His grace is sufficient. He sees it all and never leaves. He promises peace and power as His presence somehow makes the impossible possible.
God loves you …
and Jesus too.
