Dear Little Emmy

Dear Little Emmy,

You work so hard to keep your hand to yourself but sometimes you forget to watch your mouth. Your stutter doesn't stop you but having to catch your breathe always does.  Yes, your sister is a better speller than you but she isn't a better artist. Your puppy really does love you as much as you love her.  Mommy and Daddy, they have to put you in time out and send you to your room a lot but they love you more than you'll ever know. They also buy you a lot of ice cream. You get tired a lot so you should really stop protesting nap time.  Yes, your potato clock is the best in Kindergarten science fair.  Your Uncle Ralph really is the best. Those bible stories your learning, the ones you and Yellie take turns reading every night, I hope you are paying attention, not just looking for words Yellie missed or messed up on.

In the future Emmy,  I want you to know that sometimes things have to get worse before they get better, but they always get better. You'll fight hard; with mommy with daddy, with Yellie, you'll hurt them and they'll hurt you but no one will ever love you like they do.  They always will.  You'll appreciate it one day.  I promise. You'll get the baby brother you've been wanting and as much as you think you're teaching him, he will teach you more than you can ever imagine.  You will come to admire him in endless ways. You'll always struggle with math but you'll find other subjects to be good at. You'll loose your temper a lot but you'll be surrounded by grace and mercy and every new day will be a second chance. You'll be worried and be anxious but you'll learn that fear isn't from the Lord and with His help you'll become brave and courageous.  People will disappoint you and hurt you, but there will be many who change your world for the better.

Emmy, sometimes you'll do the right thing and it will be the unpopular choice, but you'll shape your character that way.  Your family will grow and relationships will change but your family will always be the most important thing in your world. And your cousins will always be the best friends you'll ever have.  In fact, they still are. You'll fall in love and you'll get your heart broken.  It will be a pain like you've never felt before but, over time the ache will heal, your heart will mend and you'll make it through.  You'll seek God and at times feel like he's distant, but you'll learn that He's never left your side.  He'll reveal his plan to you as time goes on sometimes in advance, sometimes at it happens.  You'll learn God has a good sense of humor, but so do you.

Oh Little Emmy, what you will never lack is sass, and spice and determination.  You will value loyalty and honesty and truth.  Your heart "condition" will put you on a journey that not many have walked.  Many times you'll feel lonely and there will be many times you question God's purposes.  But, you will never stop believing. You will never stop hoping.  Not even for a second.  You'll remember the songs that daddy sings to you each night.  You'll remember the times Mommy prayed for you when she thought you were sleeping.  You'll remember that God loves you, that He died for you, and when you make that choice to serve Him; your life will never be the same.

You can do this little girl. You are smart.  You are brave.  You make it.  And most importantly, you are loved and you show love. Innocence may leave you, but Your God never will.

Loving you always, 
Bigger Emmy