Saying grace

After reading a chapter out of Farmer Boy, I put the book back on its place on the dresser and plopped back down on the bed next to Emma.  Thanksgiving was coming up and I couldn’t help but feel very thankful for so many things and even for this – getting to finally read the Laura Ingalls Wilder series with Emma for the first time.  I had somehow missed reading it as a kid and I was now just as giddy as any eight year old dreaming of horses and life on a farm.  Jared sat on the bed, too, which isn’t always the case these days because he’s working the night shift.  Emma lay there, a pleasant smile on her face, all tucked in the blankets.

He and I startled rattling off all the things we were thankful for.  To be honest, I can’t remember what they were.  The usual things like family and friends…and probably food, knowing me.

“What are you thankful for Emma?”  Jared and I looked at Emma as she stared off with a smile in her eyes.  We knew she couldn’t answer in that moment because the keyboard wasn’t close by.  But we always ask her questions anyway, just wanting to include her I suppose.  She’s always listening.

Emma: “Gah”

We looked at her and each other.  Did we just hear that?

“Did you hear that?  I think she just said God!”  Jared was the first to speak, his eyes wide in surprise.  Emma had definitely said “Gah”!!

I had to know.  I flew out of the room to get the iPad and held it in front of her.  Emma was laying in bed looking at the ceiling and she had the sweetest grin on her face.   I grabbed her arm and she reached out to the letters.

Me: “What did you just say, Emma?  Did you say ‘God’?”

Emma: yes

Me: “Oh, Emma!  Listen to you.  You are really starting to say words!!  I’m so happy!!!”  I couldn’t contain my grin or my eyes, which were tearing a little at the edges.

Jared and I looked at each other shaking our heads.  She had recently begun  to say small words.  She already had a few – “yes”,  “Dora” and “juice” that she used and practiced, mostly with prompting.  And the way that she had been delivering these words was with great effort and purpose, pushing herself to try to articulate her mouth like never before.  And every time I see her do it, I think about all the times she’s told me that talking is her big desire.  It’s the one thing that we always pray for at night.  It has always seemed like an impossible dream, even when I assured her it wasn’t.

She reached out again to the iPad.

Emma: I am so thankful for an appetite for his grace in my life

When she had finished typing it was a quieting moment.   Inside I gave thanks that no words could express.  I was not surprised that  his grace would be the thing which Emma would be thankful for.  And not  just thankful for grace, but an appetite for it – a hunger, a desire, a confidence to never give up because God will never give up on her.  Her appetite  is deep and inspiring.  She had said “God” with her own lips and I feel certain she will say more.  I have a feeling it will be more than I have expected.  I am starting to truly believe that there is nothing on this earth that is not possible.

Yes, I too, am thankful for His grace in my life.