Over the past weekend, we followed our 16-year-old daughter’s provincial volleyball tournament via text updates. She was far away. We had commitments and couldn’t go. We sent our hearts with her and texted.
Each game she would text us the results and her intentions for the next game.
The rhythm was warm and responsible. The connection weak, but real. The team fought through. Her game-by-game intentions showed maturity. She played hard. It was an emotional weekend for her. I could tell.
Last night she texted to see if we could talk via FaceTime. Of course! She wanted to talk! The call came. When she called, my heart was fully open to her. I couldn’t wait to hear from her! There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation. Talking, connecting, spending time…whoa!…those are my love languages!
Drop everything…listen…be present…
I think she needed to hear “I love you! You’re wonderful! We’re with you. It’s okay….”
Really, as the words echo, they are the words we all need to hear. My heart aches to hear those words as I lay my head on the pillow at day’s end.
Words of acceptance….
Words of companionship….
Words of worthiness….
Some of us get those words from a loved one. If we do get them spoken, they are the echo of the heavens. What a blessing.
But the haunting reality is, our human relationships are fragile. We seem to know, ultimately, deep down, those words need to come from the whisper inside of us. We all, on some level know, we need to believe for ourselves. The truth is, we will come or have come to the life crisis, where the only believable source is spiritual Truth.
My faith practice gives me those words, deep inside of me. Faith that leads to a sense of worthiness is the only faith that matters.
As I practice, worship, commune, breathe, grow…my sense of self and my sense of belonging become stronger. My tears heal. My armour comes down. My heart grows soft. My compassion for others burns bright.
It is the only kind of faith worth having…faith that leads me to a sense of worthiness.
It is the advent of all good things. The root. The source.
I can see wave after wave of God’s love crashing over me.
It makes me brave.
LearnForward offers this gift to children. The hope of faith. The birth of light and love, as perfect as a newborn child…
…a sense of worthiness.
As the Christian season of advent dawns, a new beginning emerges. How will you nurture your faith that leads to a sense of worthiness? Can we all intention to echo the words of heaven (acceptance, love, and worthiness) to our children? Together, let’s set a pace that allows for the most important.
For the sake of the children,
Karine