I found a journal...

I found a journal.  It was buried deep in the corner of the storage room.  It wasn't really a journal- and it didn't say "PRIVATE" on it, nor did it say "DIARY", nor did it have a lock.  Just a simple notebook, green in color- new-ish.  So I opened it to see if there was any spare paper.  Because that is what I was really looking for.  When you have 5 kids, paper, pens, pencils, scissors, etc...can disappear quickly.  And I needed a piece of paper to write down a few notes.

Inside I found some wonderful reminders, all handwritten by my daughter.  She must have written these things down between the ages of 7-9 because of the progression in her handwriting.  She's always reading- and always writing.  I don't know what the future holds for her, but she is such a bright girl.  She writes lots of poems, which are beautiful, but that is not what struck me most.  What struck me was all of the bible verses she had written in this journal.  I didn't make her write these, they weren't from her church 'quiet time' papers, and they weren't her school verses either.  Just verses that she found important enough to write down and consider.  I'll share a few.

"I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone Oh LORD make me dwell in safety."

(We used to say this verse a lot when she had trouble sleeping)

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  (col 3:13)

(we all have trouble with that one, don't we?)

" Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe"   (Philippians 2:14-15)

(we are Christs representatives, are we doing a good job at that?)

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment, the second is like it;  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang the Law and the Prophets."  (mat.22:37-40)

(how are we doing on that one?)

"Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
(gal 6:9)

There are many more.  I am so thankful that Abigail is thinking about these things- no she is not perfect.  But she knows what is right and what is wrong.  She does not always choose right, none of us do.  But if we can meditate on what is good, what is pure, what is right- then just maybe we'll be better people for it.  I love my Abigail, and I am so blessed to call her my daughter.