Lessons from Daffodils

My little girl Lydia is a sweetheart.  Today began a bit crazy because both Caleb and Levi woke up with fevers and a lot of congestion.  A little bit later they practiced syncronized puking and in the matter of about three minutes, they had left puddles in three rooms and the hallway.  Oh yeah, and all over the couch.  (So thankful I made removable slipcovers!)  Even though Lydia wasn't feeling great herself, she cheerfully jumped right in to help.  While I cleaned the couch and floors, she filled the tub and gave Levi a bath, washing him head to toe and then playing with him. 

A little later, while I hung the clothes to dry, she disappeared from my sight.  As I was about to look for her, she came running from the front yard, hand outstreched with flowers, and smiling from ear to ear.  She had been picking the daffodils.  She brought them in the house and arranged them in the vase and proudly gave them to me.

As I began to think about her act of kindness, I was so convicted because she had gone out of her way while she was sick to do something sweet for me.  And then I began to realize, "Wow, how often do I go out of my way to do kind things for people when I don't feel well?"  Instead, I often use discomfort as an excuse for being unkind, or impatient, or whatever I just want to excuse away.

I'm so thankful for my little girl.  And I'm so thankful to the Lord for using her to teach me through His beautiful creation of daffodils.  I hope I will always be reminded of this lesson when I look at one!