The Greatest Motion Picture NEVER Made

A few days ago Jack was playing in the playroom peacefully and then all of a sudden I heard him screaming at his brother. You know the kinda scream when your sibling is hitting you with a light saber (that happens frequently around here). So I rushed in there to find Jack inconsolable, not because he was being hit but because Sam had walked across the imaginary pool he was life-guarding in the middle of the room. God forbid.

Jack gets his imagination, and his need for things to go like he imagined, from his mother. I like to refer to my imagination as "motion pictures" that I create in my head. They come complete with color, drama, and all the workings of your favorite film. The only thing is, they rarely turn out like I picture them. This adoption has been an incredible exercise in laying down my motion pictures for God's plans to unfold. In January, I had to lay down the expectation that Ruthie would be younger at referral. Through the spring, I laid down lots of quality films about our travel dates as I moved events, like Sam's birthday party, around to make room for my expectations.

And now, I am going to have to lay down the greatest production I have ever made. It is the one that I have gone to sleep many nights over the last 2 years working out the details of. It involved a little Chinese lady turning a corner holding Ruthie and walking her over to me. I then squatted down to where Jack and Sam were standing behind me and watched as they blew bubbles with her and handed her cookies and M&Ms like the ones we had already mailed her. Jack would pat her back and talk to her sweetly while Sam crossed his eyes and danced in a circle to try and make her laugh. Darn that Swine Flu- Oh excuse me H1N1 or whatever they are calling it now. Either way, it is cutting production of a Gone With the Wind quality film and causing me to leave my boys at home for 2 weeks while I go and get their sister without them.

Back to Jack's thwarted imagery- After taking away his beloved whistle privilege for yelling at his brother, I sat him down and explained to him that I am a lot more concerned about the condition of his heart and his relationship with the reality in front of him than I am with his comfort or fun. And God said to me, "Did you hear that?"