The Goliaths That Will Seek To Take Her Down-

I had the recent honor of tending a couple of grandkids at their home. They are 4 and almost 1. 
I was with the 4-year-old and we were headed down into the basement. She paused near the top and with a deep breath told herself. 
“I’ll be brave…”
I had no idea what we were gathering courage for. The basement was far from what you think of- if there’s a basement needing mantras of bravery. It’s new, beautiful, and safe. 
Very safe. 
I was a bit confused as she clasped my hand and we took the first few stairs together. 

Moments passed and I simply asked. 
“What do you need to be brave for?”

She walked down a few more steps and pointed to the light on the landing. 
I looked up. 
She said, “Blink…Blink…Blink”
As it flickered. 

Apparently, it was creeping her out. I was so impressed that she told herself to be brave and simply and instantaneously worked through the hard. 

She will be ready someday for even harder challenges and trials in life. 
She will learn to gather bravery from within AND faith in Christ to multiply energy to go and do. 
Truly she is strong and brave and learning about Christ. 

A few hours later it was time for bed. 
I had helped her with her bath, teeth brushing, and jammies and then called Grandpa upstairs to tag-team and read scriptures with her. 

It was a sweet, tender moment as she snuggled in as he began to read. I grabbed my phone to take a picture of the memory when she leaned back, folded her arms in front of her, and called Grampa out!
“Those aren’t the words Grampa!” She sternly told him. 
Truth be told- 
Grampa rarely reads the words in any storybook. He makes them up and summarizes a much shorter version than the author has written. 
On this particular day, he was out-matched by a four-year-old who knew what her scripture story actually said. 

And what a blessing. 
Because days in her life will be hard and there will be times that hurt. 
Gratefully she’s building that foundation to fight the Goliaths that will seek to take her down. 

I couldn’t understand the hard she faced as we descended the staircase. 

Look around. 

Everyone we see has troubles and Goliaths we can’t fully understand. We never know nor can we usually see the invisible hard that others have gathered strength and bravery to show up for. 

It was easy for me to be patient and inquisitive toward my granddaughter as she worked through her acquisition of courage. Grace came easy. 

It was good practice for times when I’m slow to offer it to myself or others. But the world needs more of it.
That I know. 
For now- I see God putting people and experiences in my life to teach me more about it. He’s giving me opportunities to practice it and a fire to be better at it. 

I’m thinking the need for it will only increase as we near our Savior’s Second Coming. I believe we will need to offer it up at an ever-increasing pace. 
Perhaps the “hard” is a creepy blinking light, trial of faith, medical crisis, or other hardship. 
Maybe we need grace towards a serious personal crisis where our strength is depleted, or for a life companion enduring their own plight-

Whatever the hard-
Whatever the need to be brave-
We can take the Savior’s hand as he extends it and find rest. 

“Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28)
 
-JC

Birthday Cake Popcorn

16 oz. vanilla melting discs
2 teaspoons coconut oil
½ cup dry funfetti cake mix
⅛ teaspoon salt
___
12 cups popped popcorn (I use pre-packaged kettle corn)
2 cups cut up pieces of frosted animal crackers
___
Sprinkles

Melt vanilla melting discs. Stir in cake mix and salt. Toss the cake batter mixture with popcorn and cracker pieces in a large bowl. Gently fold until evenly coated. Pour out onto a large sheet of parchment paper. Sprinkle with sprinkles.
Let set. Share!