Saturday, May 09, 2009

Letters to Eliana


As we drove home from our church's Mother and Daughter Tea Party, I gripped the steering wheel tightly and ran through the next few hours in my mind, making a list.

Kevin leaving to visit a friend in prison... Gideon will be hungry... what can I make for dinner?... should probably fold those baskets of laundry that have been shuffled from room to room the last couple of days...

"...and flowers and cars and clouds and..and..and sign stops and grasshoppers and..."

Need to prepare May package for our friends in Africa... prepare school for Monday... prepare...

"...dresses and girls and chocolate and boxes and tea and driving fings and..and..and daddies and pretty hair and..."

Should get that birthday card in the mail... and...

"...so many fings! And you know what, Mama?"

I shook my foggy head and looked at you in the backseat, your hair so prettily braided, your pink flowered dress laying lopsided on your shoulders, a chocolate ring around your lips.

"What, Eliana?"

"We should ask Him to bisit our house!"

Confused, I thought back to the words I had heard piping through my busy thoughts moments before. Were they things you saw out your window? Things you're thankful for?

No.

You were naming everything you could think of that, in your three-year-old thoughts, have been created by the Lord.

"Do you mean God, precious?" I glanced again in the mirror, and you nodded emphatically, eyes big, raising your fingers to form a pretend knock on the door.

"He's gonna knock on our door, and we'll say 'come in, God!' Should we do that, Mama? And He will say, 'Who are you, Eliana?', and I will say, 'I'm an Eliana - You made me!"

Oh, how you made me laugh. A joyful, freeing, from-the-gut laugh. You changed my list, Eliana. Now it reads... laughter and braids and freckles and chocolate (we're so alike, you and I!) and books and tea and photographs and Mama's Day cards and hugs and dances in the kitchen...

Yes, precious. We should ask Him to visit our house. And when you greet Him at the door, He will know exactly who you are.

Because He made you.

Let's make an Open House for Him together. I don't think He'll mind the laundry baskets and leftovers- He won't even mind the crying Little Man. He'll kick the baskets out of the way, scoop the beans onto His plate, and bounce the baby on His knee. If we're smiling, it's enough for Him.

And He's never going to want to leave.

'Cause you make us smile every day.

Love you, my girl.
Mama


related: Open House

(I've linked this to Emily's Tuesdays Unwrapped posts... such a lovely idea!)

19 fellow travelers shared:

Unknown said...

Oh, how I've missed you.

Thank your for sharing this tender letter. It could have been written from me to my Gracie.

You are beautiful. :)

Bekki said...

I love this girl! I had a good time talking with you at the tea and watching E play dress-up. I have missed you.

Maxine said...

Hello, long lost friend! I see you're still writing the sweet letters to the sweet little girl. I came over to wish you a very blessed Mother's Day. Enjoy your treasures.

I'm going to use the business blog link (my name). It just occurred to me that you would like the poem I posted there yesterday.

Hope you and yours are all well.

Joy said...

Oh, amen, amen, Elliana! Love to both you dearies...

Anonymous said...

Yes, yes, yes....oh, so very much like her Mama!

Beautiful! ~Mama/Nana

Christine said...

Miss you! Love this letter and the picture. Good to "see you"!

Cosette said...

I don't think it could get any more precious than that!!

Mercy said...

Totally melted my heart... and that of my 23 year old daughter who I read it to!

Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience said...

Beautiful, Elise... like mama, like daughter... like Father.

Yes! His closeness, His dwelling with us, changes everything.

We celebrate with THANKS!
Let the feast begin...

Jennspiration said...

Beautiful! Hope you had a fabulous Mother's Day!

Kristin said...

Missed reading your encouraging words. But... I understand your need to be still, not still in body, but still in mind... and still with Him.

Anonymous said...

Elise,
I loved this! I can so relate! The "to dos...". Reading this brings me such peace and love...because it's true, excellent and praiseworthy. I had a special Saturday with my oldest daughter (age 2). I took her alone to our church's ballet recital. I loved being with her...and am thankful for a mother/daughter relatinship...can't believe it. Mary Brooke (lifting you up to our Lord in prayer...I too am enjoying new babies, children and am balancing all the work).

Carrie said...

Oh yes... conversations with our little ones that take us right to the heart of God... it's amazing how much they can teach us sometimes. :)

Blessings.

Shelley said...

Beautiful! So sweet.

Kelly Sauer said...

oh I love your writing style - this post just makes me cry! so beautiful!

emily freeman said...

Kelly sent me over here and I'm so glad she did. Beautiful, perfect and oh-so-true! This would fit perfectly for the linky I'm hosting today if you want to join. I'm just saying....

emily freeman said...

Oh yay! I'm so glad you linked up. Thank you!

Melissa Stover said...

that's precious. what a sweet thing you'll be so glad you wrote it down to remember.

Anonymous said...

I realize I am reading this a while after it was written, but it is very beautiful. I placed you blog on my bloglist several weeks ago...thanks so much for your beautiful posts!

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