Will you let her come?

There’s truly something amazing about 6^th grade girls basketball. 

Amazingly funny, that is.

 

At this age, the game should more appropriately be called Keep Away or Ready Wrestle.  It has less to do with the basket and more to do with chasing whoever has the ball.  On this day, I remembered to bring my camera, and we were privileged to see a bit more of what our daughter is made of. 

apparently, passing the ball was not an option.

Now, mind you, we’ve taught her to be polite, take turns, share and say her prayers.  Other parents enjoy having her at their homes.  She uses ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’  Her room is messy, but she can “see things better that way.”  With four children, my main theme has been to try and 'finish strong.'

click on photo to see her 'you are really bothering me' look.

She is our fourth child, our youngest.  She is the one whose life would come to be in my 40^th year.  The one whose name was chosen by God and whispered to me almost 12 years ago. She was never a surprise to us.  We knew she was coming, even before she was conceived.  That day in the car, all by myself, he told me her name… Kara Joy.  Inaudible, but transferrable… from heart to heart.  I knew it was God right away. I struggled hard with him that day.  I cried.  I was afraid.  I was done having children and didn’t want any more.  And oh, by the way... was this going to be another immaculate conception?  Because as far as I knew, one had to be exposed.  And, well, at that point in our lives, things weren't exactly 'frequent.'  And for crying out loud, did he know I was 39 years old?  And, He already knew how much I hated giving birth.  Yes, God and I went a few rounds that day.  And then he won.  Silencing me as he asked me this question...

Will you let her come? 

He asked me.  Spirit to spirit.  Please don’t ask me to explain why God would do that. I can’t. Just one question.  From him.   Then and there, my heart changed, my life changed and my mouth formed the word “yes.”  Without understanding, without fear.  I'm am forever grateful that the gentle presence and moving of his spirit enabled me to yield.  And now, 12 years later, this is Kara Joy.

  

One who prays for her friends and their parents.

One who sees others in pain and cries about it.

One who brought me her teddy bear after my mom died because I “needed it more than she did.” (I slept with it for a long time.)

One who looks for someone alone at the lunch table, so she can sit with them.

One who is compassionate and giving.

One who is full of laughter and sarcasm.

One who loves to sing and cook. 

She is wise beyond her years, an old soul if you will.

So as my camera captured the look on her face during the basketball game, it made me laugh out loud.  I laughed to see her tenacity… the sheer determination of the warrior child in battle.  First I laughed.  And then I remembered.  I remembered whose she was… and I felt deeply thankful. 

For every facet of her personality.

For her determination.

For her strength.

For her compassion.

For the Author and Giver of her life.

For the privilege of being her mom.

Patricia Spreng

Joining with Laura at the Wellspring for Playdates With God

and with Wolfrosebud at Scribbling Spiritual Sand