on the way home from DD {{bc apparently there was NO preschool today for jk...it's no prob, really...we just rushed around and scrambled and got in the car and then when we got there and there was no school...well, there were tears...thus DD}}, there came a moment of sincere sadness in my heart.
jk: "mommy, i want to look like brookie"
"why sweetie? you are the perfect jada"
jk: "i don't like my brown skin. i want peach skin like brookie"
i just sank. does that not make ur heart want to break? a 3 yo is struggling already with her skin being different. then, this happened:
brooke: "jada, god made you and he loves you. he does it all right the very first time"
then, i think my heart grew three sizes.
jada threw a big smile up on her face and said, "ok. god loves me"
now, if we all could just do that. god loves us...he doesn't make mistakes...he makes perfect works of art. sometimes there are scratches in the art. sometimes chips. sometimes we've been repainted. but we are all perfect works of art. it's a great reminder for me...
another great reminder: raise your children in the faith of the lord...and they will be blessed...and, so will you. (proverbs 22:6)
come on by angie's for more wordfull wednesday posts...all the cool kids are doing it!
Comments
Thank you for sharing this intimate moment with us.
Bless...shell
A merry Christmas to you!!!
Have a great day!
~K
MERRY SITSmas to you!
What a sweet little babe.
I think she gets it from her mommy...
I couldn't stop the tears from coming!
It's amazing how insightful our kids can be, isn't it? But I want you to understand this: Your 3-year-old probably said she wanted skin like Brooke's because at the age she is, she's just noticing the differences. She's not capable of assigning anything more to it than that--it's simply different. I learned this after my daughter came home saying she wanted to look like a blonde-haired, blue-eyed classmate of hers. After my heart attack and signs of the cross, I did a little research to figure out where I went wrong, and came across that tidbit.
Don't be sad, my love; Jada will be fine, so long as you embrace her differences, nurture her curiosity, open her eyes to this incredibly diverse, beautiful world, and continue to let her know that every inch of her is spectacularly beautiful just the way it is. Isn't this what ALL moms should do for their children?
Good luck!
D.
My daughter Jenna is 5 and is Chinese. We are Caucasian. Her school voted for the presidents and she voted for "Bac Bama." I asked her why him? She told me it was because his skin was the same color as hers. I told her that was an interesting way to pick and let it go.
But last night she asked me if she was "white." This was after asking if her friend Tate was "black." You know, its funny, I never thought about checking those ethnicity boxes Caucasian until I had an Asian child. But last night I began to wonder why we have those descriptors. Why can't we just be people? How did I answer this?
I told her that although her skin color and my skin color were almost exactly the same, I was considered Caucasian and she was considered Asian and her little brother and sister are too. It really didn't make a difference, we are all people and God made us exactly how we are. God loves us all.
I know this won't be our last conversation but I hope I handle the future ones well.
Inside and out.
What a sweet post this is. I've always loved that verse. Your kids sound so sweet.
Way to go momma!!
They both are BEAUUUUUUUTIFUL!! What a moment!
LORI
What beautiful girls you have.
I love your blog too, great layout!
Merry Christmas!
Ahh the tender hearts of God's children!
Happy to have found your blog!
Happy WW!
I really needed to read this today. I stumble your post:)
It's been a while since I've had a chance to check out your blog. It's been fun catching up. I love the new look.
Another great book choice for you
I like Myself. Adorable brown girl in the book that my daugther loves and relates to!
BRAVO!!!
=0D
Thanks for commenting on my blog.
Great post, sometimes our kids teach us the greatest lessons :D
Congrats on your SITS day!!
Sometimes it takes a child to say what most adults cannot express.
Your girls are gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous and have such wonderful spirits. I really needed to SEE and READ this post today.
Linked from SITS and I'll be back...for sure!
They start so young, my daughter say she is fat and she is going to be eight next week! What!!
You guys are blessed to have each other. What a wonderful family.
How wonderful....
I think they are both beautiful the way God made them!
that was a very sweet post. you have beautiful little girls :)
Just beautiful
- a SITSta