I’ve been publishing a series of posts entitled “Teaching Little Kyla…” documenting and sharing our journey of parental flubs, flaws, failures and accidental^ fortune. Posts that would normally be included as part of the “Teaching Little Kyla…” series will now be uniquely titled. At times we are teaching little Kyla and at other times little Kyla is teaching us. More falls in the latter.
A couple of weeks ago Kyla had just finished receiving her evening bath. She had been playing in the water with a foam alphabet system, sorting the letters more by color than by consonants and vowels ordered to spell certain words. She calls the foam characters her “super letters.”
Sarah was nearly finished drying and dressing our little one when for no apparent reason Kyla began to pray. The only plausible explanation was genuine gratitude.
“Dear Gawd, phank you for my baphtub… and… for my super letters.” Sarah responded, “Kyla, those are great things to be thankful for. There are some kids around the world that don’t have bathtubs or super letters.”
The world. Stopped. Instantly.
There are some kids around the world that don’t have bathtubs or super letters.
Kyla immediately had a frown across her face complete with angry and confused wrinkled eyebrows. As I watched from across the room I could see the deep trouble and grief that Kyla felt. She turned and looked up to Sarah and said, “No. They do. They have baphtubs and super letters.”
Sarah replied, “No. There are a lot of children – like the children we’ve been praying for in Haiti – that don’t have bathtubs or super letters.”
With anguish… and confusion… and agony… and distress on her face, Kyla looked down. And in the next moment, she looked up… and narrated the gospel.
“I will give them my baphtub and super letters.”
And the tears that welled up in my eyes began to run down my face.
Without agenda. Can’t we all love like a two year old?
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^ There is someone(s) greater than me/us (a divine being and a community of people) that intercede with grace and giving.
what a blessing. may we all be challenged to love persistently and despite human condition. love on.
wow man. reminded me of a quote i’m reading from “a new kind of youth ministry” by chris folmsbee… “if we are going to reculture the way we equip students for a life of ministry, it is important to get them asking the right questions. we need students to move beyond asking, ‘should i help’ to the more productive question, ‘how can i help?’”
continue to help mold that little girl so she will find her place in the kingdom and serve there.
Amen, amen!! A great lesson for all of us to learn and to be reminded to be grateful for the common, everyday things we’re blessed with. Love that child!
“…anguish… and confusion… and agony… and distress…”
Love without agenda… now that is something I can get on board with! Something Jesus did and commands us to. Loving people because they are valuable and worthy…period.
and yes…that may lead to sharing our stuff.
NIce post.
“There is one who comes after me, one whose shoes I am not worthy to carry.”
may you continue to teach kyla to pray
may kyla continue to teach you to be thankful
may we all continue to be taught by your interactions
and may we freely give our baphtubs and supper letters away.
amen.
I know that we’re constantly told to be just like the child and come back to Jesus that way, but what a concept that she already understands. I know we let so many things get in the way of us loving like that. Truly amazing, to understand that sort of love. She knows the love God showed for us. I would have loved to have understood that sort of love even just a few years ago.
I thank you for being the parents that are able to teach Kyla and love her just as Jesus loves her. What a blessing to have you as a family on our campus
this is a wonderful post. tears welled up in my eyes as well, my friend. may we all love in this way. you, sarah and kyla are such blessings on this campus. love and peace, my friend.
Wow! This is great! I love who God has made you and your family to be Travis! I am glad you guys are apart of so many of our lives!
ok…i might have teared up throughout this whole post.
what a blessing to have a child like faith.
Definitely teared up throughout this post, too! Kyla is such a blessing! I miss you guys! Come visit us in Nashville!