Another hectic Sunday morning: we need to leave early for church because of my husband’s deacons’ meeting, so I’ve selected and ironed my younger girls’ clothes in advance. (Why don’t I do this every week?) I pick up the hanger with my eight-year-old daughter’s dress, a lovely lavender wrap that we picked out together earlier this summer and laughingly call her Japanese dress.
She immediately bursts, “I don’t want to wear that!” almost defensively.
Puzzled, I ask, “Why?”
“The girls made fun of me in it.”
I ache for her and my mother’s blood boils as I ask questions, determining who wounded my girl. Although I’m sure that what hurt her feelings was a casual comment, my daughter allowed it to fester and amplify (and yes, we females of all ages are guilty of this) until she no longer wants to be seen in a dress that she chose.
How often do my children—and I—allow the opinions of others to steal our joy, to shape the way we see ourselves? Do we change in order to please or not be hurt?
I tell my girl how special she is, how beautiful, and remind her how much she loves the dress. Ultimately she wears it and everything is fine, but it makes me think:
What can I do to encourage my girls and remind them that they’re not only my daughters but daughters of the King?
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By: Dawn Camp, My Home Sweet Home
