Proud Mommy Moment

It is amazing how God can use your children to teach you things, when you need to hear them most, in ways you would never expect. 

Next week, Reader R. is going to be the "Star of the Week" in her first grade class.  She is SOOOOOO excited about being the Star of the Week.  In preparation, we filled out a worksheet about all of her favorite things.  As you would expect, it started with the standard first-grade girl responses...
her favorite color: "Pink," food: "Pizza,"  subject: "Reading."  SURPRISE!

Towards the end, the questionnaire asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  I was eager to hear what she would say.  Reader R. has always been a special child.  She has a tender heart and a love for others.  When she was four, her answer to this question was "a pediatric cardiac surgeon."  When she graduated from Kindergarten, she was the only one in her class, amongst several firefighters, doctors, and veterinarians, that wanted to be "a volunteer in an orphanage in Guatemala."  So, I was a bit surprised when she responded "I want to be an all-star basketball player in the WNBA."  REALLY? 

My Future WNBA All-Star

Now, by way of background, my sweet Reader R, is called that because she LOVES to read.  However, in the last six months, she has developed an uncharacteristic LOVE for basketball.  She love to play basketball, talk about basketball, read about basketball.  We even had a basketball birthday party for her earlier this month when she turned seven (without really understanding why, and slightly concerned that we might be setting her up for serious disappointment when she figured out that she did not really know how to PLAY basketball). 

So, tonight, as she was helping me clean up the dishes, I asked, "So you really want to be an WNBA basketball player, huh?" (with skepticism)

"YES!" resounded her reply.  

"Are you sure?"  (Pretty convinced that a girl as smart as she is could do better than hang her hopes on such an unlikely goal...) 

"Uh-huh." 

"Well, you know, if you are a famous basketball player, you will have to be prepared for interviews.  Do you think you can handle that?" 

"Yes."

"Ok.  Let's try it.  Reader R., how did you get interested in basketball?"

"Well, I started liking basketball in Kindergarten.  I have liked it ever since."

"What would you say is the key to your success in basketball?"

"Practice.  Practice. Practice.  I practice whenever I can."

"What would you tell the little girls who look up to you?"

"Trust in the LORD with all of your heart."

Finally, I realized I had been asking the wrong question, "Reader R, WHY do you want to be a WNBA player?"

"Well, I was thinking, and a lot of kids look up to famous people like idols, but when I am a famous basketball player, I want to be able to tell people about JESUS."

What an amazing little girl!  I am so blessed that God gave me you.  I love you so much.  I love the precious soul God has made you...  I can not wait to see what you become when you grow up!