Driving on the interstate in the dark, we're speeding toward the huge bookstore chain in our little clunker of a van, better known as my husband's work van. I would prefer a small, local bookstore, but they're the only ones open late at night for a spontaneous, must-have-this-book-tomorrow trip. I've got a hankerin' for some coffee shop goodies; this little expedition needs to be worth it.
She is small in the passenger seat next to me, her face hidden in the shadows as we bumble along, the old van making strange noises I just ignore.
We pull into the parking space, and I throw on some lip gloss. She explains, with a little laugh, when I look at her, I'm sorry, but I look horrible, as she quickly dabs on mascara.
I wonder where she heard that? I watch her with a smile, thinking how quickly she's grown, and did I do everything right, and should she really be wearing mascara at this age, and oh my god, she's so beautiful.
We walk into the store, and they don't even have the book we drove the twenty minutes for, and sometimes I feel like an idiot of a mother who gets everything wrong, and sometimes I have my shining moments of glory, because tonight I get to be her hero.
Earlier back at the house, I'd called her, and she'd slowly come toward me, letting out a deep sigh and an umph, and I gently corrected her because I could tell she was in a bad mood. But the gentle correction pulled out the real problem. Her lips crumpled, and with tears in her eyes, she told me she had just realized we had forgotten to get the literature book she had to have for school the next day.
Tears running down her face, I told her I would take her to get what she needed. I heaved myself up off the couch, shuffled into the kitchen in my slippers to let husband know, and after sliding back into the same clothes and pulling on the riding boots I'd just taken off after returning home from town moments before, we were off. Just us women becoming.
In the bookstore, the smell of coffee is strong, and the warmth of the books all around, feeling like friends, they envelop me. We don't get to walk out with the book, but all is not lost, because we sit down at a tiny round table by the window to dip grasshopper mint biscotti into a chocolate caramel de-caff latte, and then pick up a Harry Potter movie to watch together on the way out, and we climb into the van with talk of ordering that book on Amazon.
On the way home, spiraling there in this chaotic sort of way, weary to get into bed, it must have been Nelson Mendela's book she'd asked about in the store that got her thinking. She says to me hey Mama, what about that letter I got about the summer trip to Europe, the one where we go and get experience and help people--am I still doing that?
Because I think I'd like to be a missionary. And I think it'd be good for me to get the experience. It's good life-experience, you know?
The world seems to just stop spinning, and the old wheels of the van's still turning at lightening speeds, but my heart stands still and my breath catches.
I reach over, slide my hand into hers, hold on tight, and tell her Wow, those are some amazing thoughts you're having. I breathe shallow, wait a few beats, then-- and I totally respect that, so very much, Lorna. I wish I could see her face, shrouded by the blackness of night. I can feel her smile.
She goes on in her hurried talk as if she's blurting it out before she loses her nerve. I want to marry a man with money, so that we can build a business, and go to Africa.
A rich man, huh? I look at her out of the corner of my eye, a sly grin playing on the edge of my mouth, and she glances at me, the smile jumping over and dancing on her profile in the dark. I wish for light, but it's almost better this way, whispering secrets of our hearts to one another in the velvety-black of sky and stars whizzing by. I think it makes her braver.
I will build a hospital, she says, and give each family all the medicine and help they need to be healthy. I want to travel from town to town on the whole continent of Africa, building houses, hospitals, schools, and wells for the people so they'll have clean water.
I grin from ear to ear and in spite of life's hardships that make me forget how to laugh, and remembering too often my failings as a mother, not sure if I'm getting it right, my heart fills with such hope at her words.
Those words make me know that just maybe I haven't messed up as badly as I think.
There is nothing better on this earth than a child. Purity. Innocence. Beauty. Wildness. Courage and bravery. Audaciousness. Unconditional love. Curiosity and appreciation for the world around them.
In that moment, holding her hand in the grey van, as it squeals its way toward home, I feel God's glory. Yes, He is right here with me, in the form of a child. I see Him in her face, in her brave words, in her giving heart, in her fierce care for others to have clean water, strangers to her, living on the other side of the world.
She makes me see how we're all holding hands, how God looks down and sees us all at once, and seas and distance and race and time and prestige and position and money and power and good deeds mean nothing to Him. He sees all of us, his children. He could scoop us all up with his mighty hand. We are much closer to one another than we think, much more connected than we believe.
We slide out of our seats once we've pulled up in the driveway, and I start up the steps, only noticing the footsteps right in front of me. But my daughter, she's looking all around her, and says Woah, Mama, the stars! I can see all of them, so beautiful!
I look up, really seeing for the first time. This is what she does for me. Glory. They burst, and glow at me, saying something. We're all connected across the miles. I can see the big dipper! she points it out.
And those in Africa tonight, so can they. So can they, dear child. Dream with audaciousness, and with all courage God's given, daughter.
His Kingdom has come, here on earth.
What this link-up is about: We "write out spirit" by practicing writing about the invisible using concrete words. In case you are going "what in the world is a concrete word?!"--this just means (using the prompt to inspire) write out what's around us--concrete words make the senses come alive, gives place. In every story, there is always an above and beneath, a beside, something tucked away, aromas in the air, something calling in the trees or from the street, notes in our pocket, rocks in our shoes, sand between our toes. Go here to see Amber Haine's take on this. It was very helpful to me--I think it will be beneficial for you, too.
A few simple guidelines: 1. Be sure you link up the URL to your Concrete Words
post and not just your blog home page URL.
2. Put a link to this post on your blog so that others
can find their way back here.
3. Try to visit one or two others and encourage their efforts
4. Please write along with us, using concrete words--
and the prompt--Please no entries with how-to's, advertising,
or sponsored posts
5. We connect on twitter with the hashtag #concretewords--
please share so others can join!
Today's prompt is Hands. GO!
**{This link up will run until Sunday, the 2nd, 11:59 pm, giving you plenty of time to write and link-up before the next concrete words is posted. I will read your stories and highlight one of them from this link-up on social media. On Monday, Feb. 3rd, the prompt will be *Dirt*.}
