Dear Sophia,
...Little girl with a big, deep, wise heart...
...My little girl that I named "Sophia" because it was greek for wisdom, which is what I want most for you. Beyond all riches and success of this world, beyond fame and happiness and lack of sorrow, I want you to have a wise heart.
Today you were singing to me at the table while we ate our lunch the song "Mighty to Save". You've been singing it a lot to me, and also making up your own "hallelulah" (that is how you pronounce it) songs. I love it that you sing constantly throughout your day to God. I love that I hear you praying and talking to God like He were sitting next to you. Do you know that He is? Sitting right next to you? Wispering in your ear that you bring Him joy and that He delights in you? It's true - the same joy you bring to my heart, you bring to His a thousands times over. The same proud tears you fill my eyes with, you fill His with, too. The same moments I notice your beauty, your humor, your innocence, He notices them, too. And the same moments I don't want to end, but rather to endure forever, He does, too. All the things that I feel as a mother, God feels with a heart that is bigger than mine will ever be. He loves you beyond the limits of the universe.
It seems the biggest change in your transition from toddler to preschooler is wanting to know "why". You have questions. BIG questions. "Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?"; "Why do we CRY holy, holy, holy? Why can't we just SAY it?"; "Why did God make me a girl?"; "How is Jesus God's son and also God?" You hunger and thirst for answers and a deeper understanding of the world, but you also hunger and thirst for understanding God. While this is so great, man, is it also so hard. It means that the burden falls on me to answer your questions, and sometimes I don't even know how to begin to explain God! How do I explain to you the being that was here before the onset of time, who CREATED time, and also wants to live in our hearts, helping us to serve Him and love Him but also paved the way for us to do this through Jesus? My prayer this year, as you turn four and grow in wisdom and age, is that God equips me with His holy wisdom to be able to guide you rightly down the path of understanding Him who saves. That you would grow in knowledge of Him but also that your heart would hunger and thirst for Him. That your heart would beat fast for God, all of your days.
And, my funny little girl... As you were singing today at the table, you sang, "For-ever... author of sal-mation..." and then asked me, "Mommy, do you know what salmation is? It's a white dog with black spots." In all of my teaching, you have taught me again to laugh, little girl. I am eternally grateful.
...Little girl with a big, deep, wise heart...
...My little girl that I named "Sophia" because it was greek for wisdom, which is what I want most for you. Beyond all riches and success of this world, beyond fame and happiness and lack of sorrow, I want you to have a wise heart.
Today you were singing to me at the table while we ate our lunch the song "Mighty to Save". You've been singing it a lot to me, and also making up your own "hallelulah" (that is how you pronounce it) songs. I love it that you sing constantly throughout your day to God. I love that I hear you praying and talking to God like He were sitting next to you. Do you know that He is? Sitting right next to you? Wispering in your ear that you bring Him joy and that He delights in you? It's true - the same joy you bring to my heart, you bring to His a thousands times over. The same proud tears you fill my eyes with, you fill His with, too. The same moments I notice your beauty, your humor, your innocence, He notices them, too. And the same moments I don't want to end, but rather to endure forever, He does, too. All the things that I feel as a mother, God feels with a heart that is bigger than mine will ever be. He loves you beyond the limits of the universe.
It seems the biggest change in your transition from toddler to preschooler is wanting to know "why". You have questions. BIG questions. "Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?"; "Why do we CRY holy, holy, holy? Why can't we just SAY it?"; "Why did God make me a girl?"; "How is Jesus God's son and also God?" You hunger and thirst for answers and a deeper understanding of the world, but you also hunger and thirst for understanding God. While this is so great, man, is it also so hard. It means that the burden falls on me to answer your questions, and sometimes I don't even know how to begin to explain God! How do I explain to you the being that was here before the onset of time, who CREATED time, and also wants to live in our hearts, helping us to serve Him and love Him but also paved the way for us to do this through Jesus? My prayer this year, as you turn four and grow in wisdom and age, is that God equips me with His holy wisdom to be able to guide you rightly down the path of understanding Him who saves. That you would grow in knowledge of Him but also that your heart would hunger and thirst for Him. That your heart would beat fast for God, all of your days.
And, my funny little girl... As you were singing today at the table, you sang, "For-ever... author of sal-mation..." and then asked me, "Mommy, do you know what salmation is? It's a white dog with black spots." In all of my teaching, you have taught me again to laugh, little girl. I am eternally grateful.
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