This Little Light of Mine

“God bless the friend who sees my needs and reaches out a hand, who lifts me up, who prays for me, and helps me understand.”

Amanda Bradley

“Come on, gang! Everyone grabs a bag!” The words of my sister rang through her living room as we were leaving for the splash park. About to head out the door with four kids, Brittney quickly finished with, “Oh, Caroline!” Looking around the corner, there she was, still laying on the changing table playing with her little hands- content as could be. Laughter erupted from us all!

The temperature was at ninety-two degrees and steadily climbing.

Cranking the vehicle for cool air, we positioned everyone on the sidewalk while my sister and I loaded two babies, two young kids, beach bags, coolers, a playpen, and a wagon. It was more than any eight-passenger SUV bargained for.

When we arrived at the splash pad, The lady at the front gate watched as we made several trips getting everything and everyone inside. Grammy was already there guarding the picnic table and umbrella.

Burning from the heat and packed down to the max with waterpark essentials, we watched as another mother unloaded three small children. She filed them out of the car, picked up the baby, threw a beach bag over her arm, and marched them into the park.

Brittney and I gazed at her with our heads a bit tilted and sweat beading around our foreheads.

Without any lead-in, Brittney pipes up and says, “I think after three children, your standards are severely lowered.”

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After we set our spot and sat down to enjoy the kids playing, Eva and Ben came running up, dripping wet, yelling they were hungry. Charlotte began her growl to indicate she was too. Caroline was peacefully lying in the wagon, still playing with her hands.

Removing ourselves from our lounge chairs, we prepared sandwiches and other picnic delights with a juicy watermelon concluding our lunch. Immediately, off the kids ran for more water fun!

By now, Charlotte and Caroline were ready for their afternoon nap, but even with battery-operated fans and shade, comfort is hard to find in thick, dense humidity.

Prepared for an all-day water adventure, Eva and Ben took us by surprise when they appeared to inform us they were ready to go.

Brittney and I exchanged a look of pure desperation. Each of us thought of the mother with the single beach bag.

Timeless describes my sister’s neighborhood best. It has been marvelously preserved to its early 1900’s charm. Enormous trees speak of lasting historic beauty. With its narrow sidewalks and paths leading up to each front door, the mail carrier finds sheer enjoyment as he walks door to door to personally deliver stamped and addressed mail, leaving no doubt that the preservation of lost customs is found here.

Deep porches, with unique allure, silently beckon the enjoyment of an afternoon rest while watching cars ease down the street. A casual exchange of a neighborly wave is purely delightful.

To this atmosphere, we unloaded four children, all under the age of six. Brittney took Caroline and her car seat carrier into the house first to make room for me to unbuckle and remove a very vocal Charlotte.

Getting Charlotte out of her car seat always proves to be very difficult. She twists her arm in the seatbelt and then flips over when I try to pick her up. As if this will make her escape easier and less of a hassle. It doesn’t. Instead, it is like trying to grab a jellyfish out of the ocean.

While wrangling my jellyfish, Eva decides to flip over the seat to get out of the vehicle. As if it would be no hindrance to my back or already tricky endeavors.

I began to scold Eva telling her to wait. I didn’t realize my voice had raised a few octaves as I said, “Eva, the ground is hot. Put your sandals on so you don’t burn your feet, let me get Charlotte out, then I can get yall out. Please wait!”

Ben and Eva looked at me with wide eyes.

I finally got Charlotte out, feeling the breeze from the shade trees; I calmly continued, “Ok, now. Eva and Ben crawl on out.” Crossing the street, with Charlotte still crying, Eva stops to collect a few rocks and visit with some ants. I hollered, “Eva get on the sidewalk. You cannot just stop like that in the middle of the street!”

In all the commotion and getting the kids across the road, I didn’t notice my sister’s next-door neighbor painting the side of his house.

He was peering around the corner while keeping steady strokes of paint to the side of his house. He quickly disappeared around the side once he saw me looking at him.

Coming back across the road to begin unloading some of the bags, with an inconsolable Charlotte still strapped to my side, I noticed another neighbor reading on her front porch across the street. She had her eyes peeking over the top of the pages as she watched the entire scene unfold before her. She, too, darted her eyes back into her book as if she wasn’t paying me any attention.

Hot, tired, weary from loading and unloading, I wanted to holler out, “And I write books about the home and family!”

Galatians 2:11 says, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I (Paul) withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed. For certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.”

Peter quickly fell back into old habits. He tended to be concerned about what others thought, just like when he denied Jesus (Luke 22:54-62).

Our flesh lingers right under the surface of our lovely smile, just waiting for the opportunity to show itself.

One hundred degrees, four kids, and splash pad summer days will test your surface level. My light was shining brightly, just not how I wanted it to. The constant cries of two tired babies, questions, giggles, and playfulness from the older kids found me snappy.

When I got inside, I found Eva and sat her down. I explained to her the importance of waiting patiently for others when exiting a crowded vehicle and how vital it is to cross the street without stopping. To Ben, I gave him a big hug and thanked him for his help.

My light showed brightest to those that mattered most.

I don’t know the impression I left on those two individuals watching me? Probably some sympathy and understanding. I know I definitely added some laughter to their day.

As with Peter, it is not when we eat with the right crowd or play at the right temperature that matters, but how we respond when things are not ideal because someone is always watching.

Welcome Home

“Let your light so shine before all men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16