Surprise Box

The other day I come home from work and my daughter says "Mom, is there something we should know?" I saw the box and laughed. "No, sweetie, unless they know something I don't know"  - She replied, "Don't they know I am 10 and I do not need formula anymore"

We laughed at this company that sent a 40 something woman with a 10 year old a box of baby stuff. I know woman my age have babies, my little one just knows that we waited for her and 10 years since her. We are not adding to our family any time soon.

This blog is not about us having babies, (I have blogged about that several times before) - this box got me to start thinking about how much my daughter has grown and changed. She has grown physically, mentally and spiritually. She now has an opinion of her own, she makes decisions for herself, and she had friends that have influence in her life.

Babies are a fresh start - they come into the world pure and none of the have a chip on their shoulder.

I think back 10 years ago, I was a scared young mom and 10 year before that a scared young(er) pastor's wife - making mistake after mistake. I am so grateful for grace and forgiven for those years.

In my teens, I made a decision that has forever influenced my life - to follow the Bible verse that says -"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.… "Proverbs 25:21-22. 

I choose to forgive and show kindness to all in my life, even my "enemies". I do not have a list of wrongs against me in my past, I do not hold my daughter responsible for all the nights I did not sleep when she was a baby, I know she did not know better - why do we expect every one to be where we are in their beliefs, their behavior, their attitude ect... - I think it is time we show others grace like we show our children for their mistakes.

*to be clear I am not perfect at this, I make mistakes by holding a grudge  - yet this box is a reminder to me to forgive.