My daughters are at the stage where they want to help. They ask for chores. They crave opportunity to prove themselves capable.
So yes, they were definitely up for the challenge. and were really excited about it.
We were at my parents house, getting ready to eat lunch on the patio, taking advantage of the amazing fall weather. And Mom, wanting to include my oldest girls, had asked them to be the Official Table Setters.
*insert trumpets blowing in the heavens and little girls eyes lighting up*
They had been given a Big Girl Chore. Oh the glory.
But then. A couple minutes later as I walked by the patio door, I saw Selah standing there watching the door, her big hazel eyes filled with unspilled tears. Being on the verge of sobs, she silently held up the broken pieces of the heavy ceramic bowl. Waiting for my reaction.
I may have sighed. I think I said, "Oh Selah." But holding Alana, I couldn't comfort her like I wanted. But no matter...Mom got to her first, wrapping her arms around her, as Selah cried.
"It's no big deal. They're just plates. Okay? Things break all the time...they can be replaced. But if you had been hurt, that would make me sad..."
But my sweet, tender-hearted Selah wasn't buying it. She clung to Grandma, but still cried, so distraught over having shattered a dish. A dish that she had been entrusted to carry. but broke instead.
I stood there watching the precious interaction between my mom and daughter, so very thankful that Mom was choosing to honor Selah and not her nice pottery.
And then my sweet, crazy Mom spoke again, shocking the heck out of me...
In her attempts to really drive home the point to Selah's broken heart, she said, "Selah, it's only a dish. Do you want me to break one so you can see it's not a big deal?"
Selah immediately nodded her reply. :)
Mom just smiled and sort of laughed. walked to the table. picked up a bowl. and threw it hard against the concrete patio before I could even form two coherent thoughts in my head.
"See? It's not a big deal." Shattered pieces lay scattered...
I kept some of the broken pieces. as a reminder to me...and to Selah...that she is cherished more than a piece of pottery. that she is loved more than material wealth. and that our hope in this life is to keep her heart from being broken.
Even if we have to break a few prized possessions to prove it. Just like Grandma did today.
