Tuesday, July 19, 2011

This Mama's Heart


We went to a birthday party to photograph and celebrate our friend's daughters' birthday.  It was a joint celebration for both their girls, and we had so much fun.  It was our first birthday party with Joss being actually of an age to comprehend what is going on.  And the experience really got this mama's heart feeling for the future.

I saw her mostly playing by herself.  She would stand on the sidelines, watching the other kids play, then contently make her way to the older teenagers and spent most of her time with them (teenagers she still wasn't familiar with, but felt most comfortable with).

This is probably typical behavior for a 19 month old, so I am not too worried, but it got me thinking about my own past, and the a little fear swept over me: "What if the kids wont like her?"  "What if she wont have any friends?"  "What if she will know lonely far too intimately?"

Naturally I want to scoop her up and rescue her.  Reaffirm her.  And protect her.  Naturally I want her to easily navigate her way through a group of kids and feel confident.  Naturally I want her to be loved.

I know that wont necessarily be the case.  I know that popularity and the need for friends isn't what drives our hearts.  But I pray that she'll never know lonesome too well.  

11 comments:

  1. WOW! The LIGHT that beams from this precious child is amazing!!! Daddy God's Hand is on her!!! She is destined to CHANGE THE WORLD <3

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  2. I have that same fear with my own 19 month old daughter. It breaks my heart when kids won't give her the time of day, but then I try to dwell on the good when kids show her special attention and play with her. I think it's just a mom thing.

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  3. I pray that Jude won't feel the sting of rejection when it comes to friends. I think we all go through it though, and, at least for me, it softened my heart. The pain of lonesomeness can also help foster an empathetic heart. I rely upon this verse (maybe it can help ease your worried heart, too):

    2 Corinthians 1:3-7
    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort flows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is producing in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

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  4. The pictures you have of her are beautiful. I think the 2nd one is great.

    I'm thinking she won't know lonesome too well, if anything for a moment as she learns who she is. :)

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  5. I soooooo know what you mean about wanting to protect our kids from mean kids, bad friendships or from just not feeling liked/loved by their peers. That sting hurts so bad and I don't want my little one to ever be left out. I notice that often in sunday school she gets ignored and it breaks my heart!! Ahhhh, and this is only the beginning. Sigh. We love them so much don't we! xo

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  6. I love the pictures and you always put some thoughts to be digested.

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  7. I worry about these same things sometimes - my daughter loves other children though and is the first to attached herself to them whether she knows them or not. I don't remember being comfortable with other children growing up, I always gravitated towards older kids or adults. Don't know why, maybe it's an "oldest" thing.

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  8. I just need to say it- your daughter is seriously way too adorable. :)

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  9. This tore my heart in two. Isaac has been going through some hard times friend wise since his best friend moved away in June. We went to the park, and he tried so hard to get invited to play with the established groups of friends. I nearly broke down and cried when he would play on a piece of equipment, see a group of kids, go over to play with them, and then the whole group would gravitate to the equipment he was just on...and then he'd be left playing alone on a different piece of equipment. Oh it hurt me! Isaac has such a great little personality, and he shrugged it off and just enjoyed himself, but my heart burned for him. I hope this never happens to Josselyn! Praying that it never does!

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  10. oh friend... I feel ya!!! parenting... is it not the best and hardest thing???

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  11. Oh it is TOTALLY normal for little ones to do that, ESPECIALLY first children :) It's often not until they are a little older that they actually want to play with kids their own age. I used to get so frustrated with my first because I'd plan play dates and he'd want NOTHING to do with the other kids... mostly it was so that I could have someone else to talk to :) Anyhow, I think as parents we all pray that same prayer for our children :)

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