Who has ears to hear?

My daughter-in-law instructed her oldest two kids to get in the car while she finished packing the vehicle for another of our day long photo shoots. Carey’s doing a fabulous job with the photography for my new cookbook, Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce, but more on that soon, we have a story at hand.

Little Weston and Carey were still inside when six-year-old Emerson stormed in the room in dramatic fashion, fully distraught because her little sister, Carlisle Mae, was in the wrong seat and she wouldn’t move! The girls take turns riding in the Suburban’s middle seat with Weston instead of on the unpopular third row. Emerson wanted Carey to take her side but Carey decided to use it as a teaching moment. She does that a lot, and this Keggie appreciates seeing my grandchildren raised like that.

Once Carey managed to get Emerson to take a deep breath and calm down, she reminded her oldest daughter to think about the scripture they’d been studying, the one about preferring one another. She tried impressing on Emerson that where they sat in the car wasn’t worth fighting about, and she asked Emerson what she thought Jesus would think about the situation.

Emerson stood quietly, soaking her mother’s points in and nodding her head in agreement. Once dismissed, Emerson left the room with a calm and purposeful stride. Carey felt confident they were on the same page– until Emerson returned, moments later, more upset than before.

With her hands placed on her little hips in total outrage Emerson announced, “I told Carlisle everything you said, and she still wouldn’t move!”

In her defense, after a follow-up chat with her mom, Emerson really was able to let the whole thing go with a great attitude, but my oh my, is this not a teaching moment for us all? And so I ask myself, what lesson is it I’m wanting someone else to hear, that I actually need to apply to my own life. I would encourage you to join me in this prayer. Oh, Jesus, give us ears to hear!

Hugs, Shellie