My daughters were flower girls in a wedding yesterday. Their job was to follow the bride everywhere, keep their satin dresses clean, and smile. I envisioned disaster the whole morning. I could just see my youngest stepping on the bride’s train and sending her flying on her face. I could just picture the oldest one stomping off in protest of having to stand still for the entire ceremony.
I became a controlling, negative mother as I worried about their performance. Those girls were going to ruin everything.
I imagined the worst. I really did.
But when the moment came, I turned and saw my girls walking perfectly down the aisle, casting rose petals left and right. When I saw them standing still and smiling for 30 minutes, and when I saw how they gazed at the bride and floated around her like little angels, I felt ashamed at my own lack of faith in them.
I’m a mom who imagines the worst instead of believing the best. Something changed in my heart yesterday. Instead of anticipating their failure, I learned to delight in those little girls. I want to believe the best from now on. Not just in parenting, but in marriage and in friendship. And what about my relationship with God? Do I believe the best instead of anticipating disaster?
Living with flair means believing the best about people.
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Journal: Who needs you to believe the best about him or her?
I just found your blog during a blog hope and so much of what you say speaks to me. I too, often think the worst, and need to look for the best.
Why is it so easy to imagine the very worst?? I'm so glad your daughters helped you (& your readers) learn to believe in the best!
Good for them!
Heather, I loved this post. I needed this post! I have at times caught myself doing the same thing. Allowing vain imaginations to run wild in my head instead of trusting that all would go well. I think I need to believe the best when it comes to God because there are times when I feel as though he has not allowed something I wanted to happen occur. He could be keeping me from a lot of trouble. I have to believe the best about His intentions as well as those around me. Thank you for the sweet reminder!
Sounds like a change from “scarcity” thinking to “abundance” thinking! Congratulations to your “angels.” I will start thinking abundantly…I love how you allow God to turn worrisome situations into opportunities for flair. “Flair” should soon become a “new” word like “Google,” with your definition :). Thanks.