I threw a football through the trees for the dog while kicking a giant pink orb high into the air. Some made up game ensued and jiggling giggles began to fill the back yard. Every now and then, there would be a pause so dandelion seeds could be blown into the air or a bug could be watched like the paparazzi.
Then out of nowhere, that 3 year old threw her head back to the sky and thrust her bear-hugging arms out wide and shouted, "GOD, I LOVE YOU!" And as her arms dropped, she just stared at the sponge-painted clouds in the sky for a minute and whispered "That's heaven up there mommy."
Pure, spontaneous love. We were quiet for a while...
That night, as we knelt by her bed to pray, in the midst of all kinds of blessings invoked for family, friends, stuffed animals and toys, she said "And thank you God that Nani (her grandma that went to heaven 6 months ago) has joy in heaven and you sing with her."
How did she know that? What did she hear as she stared so long into the heavens?
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zeph. 3:17
