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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Confident (07/05/07)
Emma was one and half years old. Her straight hair was pulled into two, tight pigtails with many shorter strands falling around her face. Her shiny, blue eyes were full of life and mischief. Her whole world had just opened up to her. She had learned how to walk! She giggled with pride and excitement each time she made it across the room without falling. Mama and Daddy clapped in celebration of Emma's milestone!

It wasn’t long and Emma was going everywhere and was into everything. She wanted to go outdoors and explore their big yard. Mama tried to keep an eye on Emma to protect her from harm. Once she caught Emma heading to the busy highway where vehicles raced quickly past their house. Another time, she found Emma at the neighbor's house, and once she found Emma deep in the backyard forest of trees. Emma had courage and strong self-reliance, and her independent nature often got her into trouble.

Emma had no fear. Mama watched helplessly from a distance as Emma confidently took a step down the basement staircase and then toppled to the very bottom. Mama held Emma as she screamed and trembled in agony.

Well, in case mama wasn’t tired enough, Emma had a twin brother, Mason. Emma and Mason were as opposite as night and day. Mason's hair was as blonde and curly as Emma's was dark and straight. Mason was as loud, demanding and predictable as Emma was quiet, pensive and unpredictable. Emma was quick to learn. Mason was quick to love. Mason was heavy and burly, while Emma was small and petite. They were two very different peas in a pod. Mason had no desire to walk. Mama and Daddy would work with Mason everyday and encourage him but he refused. He would take a couple steps, but he was happier just sitting or crawling. He just wasn't quite ready for that milestone.

Once Mason was sitting outside on the grass playing with a toy, content as could be, and their overgrown, friendly dog knocked Mason right over. Mason screamed but didn't feel confident enough to move from the active dog. Again, mama had to rescue him.

Months went by and Emma was running while Mason was still crawling. Mama didn't know which was better, but knew it was in the Lord's hands when a child is truly ready to walk. She continued to watch and chase Emma to slow her down and she continued to encourage Mason to pull himself up and take steps. Oh, if she could just put them both in a bag and shake them up together. One would be less confident and one would be more.

In the peacefulness of her morning devotions one day, Jesus came so sweetly to mama. It was so clear how her children were just like their mama on her spiritual journey. Often mama was head-strong and too self-confident, like Emma. In her pride, she sometimes forgot that she desperately needed the gentle arms of her Heavenly Father to lead and direct and restrain her from hidden pitfalls of life. She remembered times that she may not have fallen on her face, had she just humbled herself and admitted she needed a little help and guidance.

Then, she thought of the times in her life when she was like Mason, and needing more confidence. She doubted the Lord or herself, and was lacking in her faith and hope. She would get discouraged and feel intimidated and inferior, maybe even stubborn. She knew Jesus wanted her to get right back up when she fell into these pitfalls of life and not give up.

Mama was thankful for the little lesson she learned by watching her children. How precious they were in these early stages of life. Someday, with the Lord's patience, maybe she’d get life all figured out, but for now, she whispered a prayer for grace and confidence to make it through another exciting day with her little ones. She had a deeper appreciation for her Heavenly Father then ever before.

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing that He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
07/12/07
Interesting--my two daughters were opposties, too, and still are even as adults. The things we learn from our children!

My only recommendation would be to occasionally use pronouns and other words to replace your proper names, to give your writing more variety.

Good descriptions; I felt as if I knew these two little ones.

Dee Yoder
07/13/07
I like the comparisons you made between the children's and Mama's walks. This is an interesting way to illustrate the importance of having confidence in Christ.
Dixie Phillips
07/13/07
My favorite statement was, "Emma was quick to learn. Mason was quick to love." That sent an arrow through my heart and made me "sigh" out lot. I loved how you tied in the spiritual aspect. You won your readers by charming our hearts with Emma and Mason, but then went in for the "kill" with Mama's spiritual experience. Great job! This really could be a devotional piece. Intense applause!
Dolores Stohler 
07/14/07
This is so beautiful! Every mother can connect with your story. How we agonize over those early years of learning and growing. And your sketches of the children were so well drawn. Kudos to you. I loved it!
Joanne Sher 
07/17/07
Enjoyed the comparisons, and the life lesson! Great stuff.
Kristen Hester
07/19/07
What a great lesson. My kids are each very different. They teach us so much without meaning to. Great job.