Category: Mara Joy

This week I realized so keenly that I have the opportunity in my own home to tell someone about Jesus and His amazing love–to tell someone who has never ever heard!

Mara was sitting in her high chair eating crackers while I fixed dinner. She had her New Testament for Little Eyes book there on her tray. She loves to point to pictures and say, “‘Dis?” which (best I can decipher) means, “What’s this?” She was pointing at the picture on the cover.

“That’s Jesus,” I told her. She looked at me a little quizzically, as if trying to understand, and then looked back down at the picture for a minute.

After a little thought, she pointed at the children. “‘Dis?” she asked again.

“Those are children, sitting on Jesus’ lap,” I explained. “Jesus loves children.–Did you know Jesus loves you too?”

Her finger was still on the picture, and she looked up, trying so hard to understand. Then it hit me. She doesn’t know! She’s never heard! But I get the blessing, the awesome privilege, the incredible opportunity, the wonderful responsibility to tell her!!!!!

I’ve always known that in my mind. I’ve prayed for her to know God, since before we ever found out I was pregnant with her. But this week, the reality of this truth really hit home to me, in a way I wasn’t prepared for. Pray for me, that I would be a consistent testimony in my life and words, and pray with me that little Mara would know God and give her life for Him!

As one who tends to be task-oriented or focused on goals, rather than enjoying what life brings each moment, I have purposed to spend a little time each day purely enjoying the simple things of life with Mara. Over the past two days I have had a sinus-related migraine (which meant neither Mara nor I left the house or did anything fun INside the house). My headache broke this afternoon, so we were both ready for a change of pace!
When Mara woke up from her nap, I told her we could put on her shoes and coat and go to Dunkin Donuts. I don’t think she knows what Dunkin Donuts is yet, but she was excited to “go” somewhere and stood pounding on the front door.
While I was setting up the stroller outside, some of the neighbor kids came over to see Mara. The girls each had balloons left over from a birthday party earlier this week, and Kimmy, seeing that Mara was excitedly reaching toward the purple one, handed hers to Mara. I wish Mara could say “Thank you!” because that was really sweet. It made her day!
As I pushed the stroller down the street, Mara was holding the purple balloon in one hand, and waving at passers-by with the other! I looked down and saw a huge smile on Mara’s face. Wow, there’s something about the excitement of a child and the newness of everything in life that is so refreshing!
It was kind of chilly out, so I was glad that Dunkin Donuts is only a few blocks away. The warmth inside felt good. Mara sat on my lap at one of the tables, and we split a blueberry cake donut. I think she was more excited about all the shiny, sparkling hearts and Valentines decorations hanging from the ceiling than she was about the donut! The entire time we were there, she pointed at the decorations, jabbering. So I told her about hearts and Valentines Day. . . Daniel can correct her later . . . ha ha!
On the way back, Mara “dropped” her balloon several times. The brisk breeze blew it in the opposite direction, and she laughed as I spun the stroller around and ran after her balloon. She would clap when we came near it. One time, another man walking nearby caught the balloon and brought it back for us. After the fourth time, I began to suspect that she was “dropping” it on purpose–to laugh at Mommy running after it!
Once home, she ate dinner. After dinner I made a cup of hot chocolate to share, and we sat down together on the sofa to enjoy it. I brought a spoon to give Mara her “tastes.” Every time I dipped the spoon in the mug, I would hear an anticipatory sip from Mara as she eagerly watched the spoon approach her mouth. Everything seems so delightful to a 13-month-old! Somehow, she makes life that much more fun for this 31-year-old!
After quite a bit of play with her purple balloon (including Verona pawing at it and trying to pick it up in her mouth–and McCheyne jumping against it as Mara carried it across the floor), Mara fell on top of it, and of course, the balloon popped. This was her first experience popping a balloon, so I didn’t know what to expect. Her response surprised me. She looked a little surprised–sort of like “Hm?! Where’d it go?” and then began crawling around to pick up the pieces! She brought them to me–it was just “trash” to her now . . .
We played her FAVORITE game. . . where mommy chases Mara and growls! She runs into a corner and hides, giggling and shrieking the closer I get, then collapsing on the floor when I tickle her.
Of course, after this game, she is completely wound up! So when I try to rock her to sleep and softly sing to her, her dancing blue eyes meet mine as she leans forward to “kiss” my cheek. (Now, “kissing” in Mara’s mind means opening her mouth WIDE and placing it on the other person’s face, usually with baby drool attaching itself to them.) But I can’t help laughing. The more I laugh, the more she “kisses” me laughing . . . But we need to pray and go “night-night.”
Thank you, God, for healing from that headache. Thank you, God, that Kimmy shared her balloon. Thank you for blueberry cake donuts and shiny, sparkling Valentine hearts.
Her thumb is in her mouth, and she’s drifting off now.
Thank you for mugs of hot chocolate. For a giggling little girl with dancing blue eyes. For good-night “kisses.”
I wouldn’t trade them for all the accomplishments in the world!