Amen, Little Sister! Amen.
Most nights of Evan's small life I have prayed over him when going in to cover him. Years ago, God moved me to trace my fingers in a cross on his forehead and pray that he would know Him from a young age and know how much God loves him. I've done it repeatedly ever since, with a sense of overwhelming gratitude and undeservedness; in awe of the fact that I've been given the mercy, grace, and authority to do this in His name.
Praying for Madalyn has been an entirely different experience altogether. We can't open her door fully before she's standing up looking at us, blinking through the dark in the bright flood of hall lights. So for a while I would pray with her as I tucked her in and always receive a resounding "Amen!" before I could finish. I also often find myself crossing her door after I bless Evan, in order to bestow the same blessing upon her. But recently I've been moved to pray for her while she's awake. Today I was watching the beginning of a movie with her, and I traced her forehead and didn't even think she was paying attention-
May she always know Your freedom and great love for her, I said.
AMEN! came a precious, baby voice back to me, in firm agreement.
Nothing has ever made me more joyful than hearing and watching my children respond to God's love. My heart tumbles in my chest and my eyes fill with puddles of joy. The cycle seems to go like this: He blesses me in letting me whisper Truths over her, then blesses her with these Truths, then she blesses both Him and me in her response. Surely this is what He meant/means when He says He heaps blessings upon blessings; they are alive and unending.
As much as I long and ache to keep my precious daughter at this precious, tender age- 18 months- in the same breath I can say I look forward to the years to come. I can't wait until I can surrender the parental authority God's given me over her and consider her not only my daughter and blood, but my sister and friend. He is so good to me, a sinner. Praise Him and bless His name for ever!
