Sun-Day on Tuesday

We sat like sardines on a lunchtime school bench- waiting for Luke's moment to shine.   I glanced beside me and caught her blue eyes- wide with silent, stoic longing.   Her bigger, not so older brother has a gift for words and ways that stand out in a crowd.  He leads like the sun's rays- sharp and brilliant and bright--  his light reflecting right back to him in a steady stream of awards and accolades.  This time it's "Dragon Leader"--two months in a row!

And year after year, Abby watches him-- and sweetly waits and wonders when a little of her own beam will find it's way back to her.

"Mom," she said meekly, hesitantly, as we drove together in the quiet of the afternoon, "I'm worried that I will never be able to get an award at school... I just don't think I count-- maybe it's because I only go half-day..."

I could feel her little spirit struggling to understand, spilling out in words from a well deep within.  And I heard her heart the way I hear my own- wondering sometimes if heaven notices just how hard I'm trying.

But what Abby doesn't yet know is this:  her light is not like a ray of sunshine-- it's more like the sun itself.  Diligently and quietly performing her many roles- helpfully, cheerfully, patiently, so that everyone else around her can shine.  It can take awhile to recognize a ball of fire behind all of those blinding rays, but it is there- steady and sure and true.  This is Abby.  So full of warmth and light at her core, that it can't help but burst out through a head of flaming golden hair!

On Tuesday, she flew through the door from school, that fire glowing right down to her fingertips:

"Mom!!!" She cried out "They said my name on the announcements today- to the whole school!!"  "They said I am one of Ms. Smith's best students because I always complete all of my work well and turn it in on time!!  "Oh, Mom- I got an award!"


And in her moment of gladness, some of that beaming sun burned inside me--

on it's way back to her.