When someone else's happiness is your happiness, THAT IS LOVE

I love my children so fiercely. They are everything to me. Their joys are my joys and their struggles are my struggles. I’ve found lately that the same goes for them - Ethan (9) and Ivy (6). If one of them is sad or sick, the other feels sad and worries and prays for the other till they are better. Ethan’s allergies have made it so that he coughs a lot at different seasons of the year and has other symptoms. This makes Ivy feel so sad for him, and so in all of her prayers she asks that Ethan get better soon! The love that is there is so sweet.

Somehow, lately, Ivy has been struggling with sadness. I wish I knew where it came from or what is causing it, but she struggles with self-confidence and knowing that she is loved. Night time is the hardest for her, because she is extra tired, so the sadness is magnified. Each night, Daddy and I struggle to find ways to help her stay positive and upbeat so she can fall asleep with a happy heart. Most nights, however, the smallest things trigger her little tears and emotional break downs. This drapes a cloak of sadness over the house, and Ethan is there (as are Mommy and Daddy) watching, wanting to console her in one way or another, but not sure how.  

Last night he found a way. After a rather tear filled and stressed out Ivy ran into her room because of her sadness, Ethan followed her in. I followed and just stood outside the door. What happened next was something I could only dream for in my mother heart. Ethan encircled Ivy with loving arms and just cried with her. For a moment, they were suspended in silent tears. Then, he began whispering words of encouragement and unending love. “Ivy, I love you. You are such a good girl. You always will be. You do such wonderful things. I love you. You will always be my sister, I will always be your brother. I will always be here for you.”

As the moments passed, I could see Ivy grasping more tightly to this brother who was there offering nothing but tender acceptance and love. He taught me by his actions, as he does so often, of Christ’s love. That is how He would love. I’m richly blessed with these two angel children.