Bless Her Heart

I don't mean that title in a Southern "bless her heart" sort of way, but in a literal sense.  Today I am praying for God to bless my little Reagan's tender heart.  I have to write down this story so I have it to tell her later, reminding her of God's continued work in her little 5 year old self.
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A few weeks ago, Reagan told me about a classmate of hers named Ryan.  That she really liked Ryan, thought he was a fun kid, but that other kids didn't seem to like him.  She said "Ryan is bigger than everyone else, and everyone calls him 'fat.'"  I asked her how she thought that made Ryan feel, and she told me, "he always seems to laugh about it, so it must be ok."  We talked then about how it made me wonder how Ryan felt on the inside... she decided that maybe he wasn't laughing inside.  So... I began the process of passing down the talk that my Granddaddy gave my Daddy, and my Daddy gave to me, about seeking out those kids that have no friends... being nice to the kid that no one is nice to... reminding her that Jesus thinks everyone is special and needs to be loved.  AND, God made her a very friendly kid who gets along with lots of people... maybe she could be Ryan's close friend.

So, she comes home from school THAT DAY all excited.

"Mommy, we got new tables today.  And GUESS WHO is now sitting next to me at my table?!  RYAN!"

I don't find that a coincidence.  :)

So, she talks about Ryan a lot.  Not sure how the other kids are treating him, hasn't come up lately, but I know that he and Reagan are friends.  And that makes me smile.

This morning, while I was frantically fixing her hair because we have like 90 seconds before we had to leave for school, she tells me, "Mommy, Ryan told me yesterday that he doesn't believe in Jesus.  He doesn't believe in God either.  Doesn't believe in ANYTHING."  I asked her what they were talking about when he told her this, and she just said she said something about church and how she loves Jesus, and then he offered that he didn't believe any of that stuff.  I panicked.  I totally did.  Do I want my 5 year old and her five year old faith to be the bible beater at school!?  How does that even work!?  What do I tell her to say!?  We don't even have time to talk about this, we're running late!  I totally am not prepared for this conversation!  Blah blah blah... so I ask her if we can pray for Ryan right now, and in true Reagan-fashion, she says "SURE."  So, I held her hands and we prayed that God would find special new ways to show himself to Ryan.  That Ryan would someday soon realize that God is the true God and Jesus is His Son.  And that Reagan could be a good friend and example to Ryan.  I finish the prayer, and she says, "Cool.  Thanks, Mom."  And she just goes about her business to get to school.

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Man, what amazing lessons I learn from this whole Mommy-gig.  He put a tender heart in my Reagan... a heart that is being molded and shaped to love others.  Lord, today and everyday, I thank you for loving me enough to make me her Mommy.  Thank you for the chance to pray with her for her friends... and help me to be expectant of more times like today.  Precious moments where I have no other ideas or not enough time or whatever it may be, and I am forced to just pray.  Thank you for sitting Ryan next to her so that they could have this conversation... and she could bring it to me... and we could bring it to You.  I am so humbled and so thankful.  Please Lord, continue to draw Reagan closer to you each day, grow her faith.

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She is just so beautiful, inside and out.  Bless her little heart.