She wakes up every morning
like it is Christmas morning
with
a smile on her face that greets you
so that you have no choice but to smile.
She eats her breakfast with such gusto
like it is her first meal
and asks for more.
She plays with her stuffed turtle
like it is alive and real
because
she is alive and real.
She doesn't just go through the motions
just trying to get through the day
hoping the next day will be better
because
every day is a great day
from the moment she wakes up.
She may only be 17 months old,
but she teaches me so much about
JESUS
as I see her overflowing with
such
LOVE
such
JOY
such
PEACE
because
that is all she knows
because
she lives in the moment
because
her little brain
isn't thinking about the future
or
regretting the past
as
she is so every present
in every moment
that even if she is told
"no"
she receives it
and shakes it off
and moves on
to the next thing
as she grabs her stuffed turtle
and greets him with a kiss and a hug
and then looks at you
with such a huge smile
and asks you to come to play with her
and nothing matters in that moment
because
you are living in the moment
just being where you are
filled with such
LOVE
&
JOY
&
PEACE
that is always yours
no matter where you are
no matter what you are doing
even if you are the only one in the room
because
this little girl, my granddaughter,
has
brought me back to the
heart of my faith
to the heart of
JESUS
who overfills me with
such
LOVE
&
such
JOY
&
such
PEACE
that every moment
is the greatest moment
when
I remember
that
JESUS
always greets me with a big smile
when I wake up in the morning
so that I can
respond back to
HIM
with faith like a child
with a great big smile
no matter where I am
no matter what I am doing
because
JESUS
is so very real
as
HE IS
all we need in every moment
because HE is
LOVE
&
JOY
&
PEACE
"Peace I leave with you; MY [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let MY perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge] (John 14:27)
Thank you
IVY LOU
for
being so
LOVING
&
JOYFUL
&
PEACEFUL
in every moment
as you remind me
who I can be
in every moment
when I am living in every moment
when I make it about
"ONLY JESUS" (listen to the song below)