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Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Today my daughter turns 4 years old. I can't even believe I can say those words. I think every woman wants a daughter. Our heart aches for a little girl. I remember during our ultrasound, when the woman told us "it's a girl." I remember the joy that I felt. God had finally given me a daughter.
Fast forward to now. Arilyn Grace is this tiny little lady. She loves dresses and baby dolls. She's sweet and kind. She's goofy and friendly. She's the most beautiful little girl I know. Raising a daughter is very much like raising yourself. You think of all the things you want to teach her, all the things you wish you knew.
One day I was walking through hobby lobby, which most of you know, I basically keep in business. I was looking for some signs to hang in Arilyn's bedroom. I had previously bought her one that said "child of God" and "beautiful girl, you can do amazing things." I was looking for something else to put on her empty wall. At the time I wasn't looking for something she could find her identity in. I just wanted something adorable. I was heavily leaning toward "in a field of roses, she is a wildflower," because I thought that described my girl pretty well. I had actually picked it up and was heading toward the checkout, when I passed a sign that stopped me in my tracks. It was based on bible verse 1Peter 3:3-4. It said "it is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from inside you, the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear, and it is worth very much to God."
The actual scripture says 'let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious'. I think that's even more beautiful.
We live in an age where the world shows us what women are supposed to be. We look to celebrities and characters on television to tell us how to behave. Little girls admire women who are barely dressed and proud of their promiscuity. It breaks my heart to think Arilyn could look up to these women, or end up being one of these women. When I was growing up, I never knew that God wanted me to be gentle and quiet. I thought being sassy was cute. It wasn't until my late twenties that I started caring who God wanted me to be. I want Arilyn to know that not only is it okay to be that quiet gentle spirit, but in fact it's precious to God.
That sign is now hanging on Arilyn's pink bedroom wall. I hope that she reads it often. I hope that the words imprint on her heart. And when the world tells her that she needs to be loud and opinionated. Independent and headstrong. Sassy and wild. I want her to come home and see every day that God wants her to be kind and gentle. Loving and quiet. Thoughtful and nurturing. And I hope that His words drown out the world. I want her to know that who God created her to be, is more important that what the world wants to mold her into.
Happy 4th birthday Arilyn Grace. You are my bestest girl. My baby bird. I love you more than all the stars in the sky.








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