Thankfulness #17 (Gabrielle)
Today I am thankful for the children I live with. They make life full. Crazy full, messy full, but mostly beautiful. There is always someone excited about something. Arianna has a nifty movie quote she wants me to enjoy. Isaac just bought some crazy new toy he wants me to admire. Samuel has some coin trick he learned from someone. Noah has a toy quiz for me to do, his questions sliding from perfectly clear to mumbling. Justice just learned a new skill and is beside himself with excitement. There are the precious moments when one child asks me a question, listens to the answer and then I hear him telling another child what we’d talked about. I am thankful for the weird foods these children love, the funny things they care about, the way they want me around. For bedtime hugs and kisses, for tucking in rituals, for bedtime games where I have to chase someone for a hug and slip a kiss into his room when he’s not looking. For the times the children crawl on me while I’m reading, for the times they’ve been good and left me alone. For all these things and so much more I am thankful.
To my Father, the Giver of life and Creator of laughter,
I offer You praise and thanks for the children You have gifted me.
They aren’t mine, but they are.
I thank You for these children who have made me grow up and who have kept me young.
And I pray that You would pour out even more grace on me
So that I can serve and love them better.
I pray that You would guard my lips
That what I say to these young ones will be full of Your love.
I pray that You would guard my hands
That what I do will always be for their best.
I pray that You would guard our house
That they may be safe while they are still little and can’t defend themselves.
I pray all these things through Your Son,
Amen.