I’m a little late getting started with this post this morning. I’ve got the early morning feeding with our little man while Emmie’s here, and he usually goes right back to sleep after his bottle. However, this morning he was chatty, in his adorable, non-verbal way. Laying up against my knees so our faces are right in front of each other, he happily squirms and smiles, letting out the heart-melting coo every now and again. We’re imprinting each other on our hearts right now, learning each others’ faces and growing a bond that will, Lord willing, last a lifetime.

That’s the way love is supposed to flow, I think. Naturally. Organically. One person learning to trust another with their heart.

This trip, Lilli has had a bit of a hard time with her Papa. I think it started when he had to get on to her for doing something around the pool that she shouldn’t, and since, she has decided not to like him. Unless he is bearing some kind of treat, or is offering transportation to the barn, in which case she merely tolerates him. If you consider that she’s just a couple of weeks shy of three years old, on top of the fact that she isn’t around him as often as she’s around me, her fickleness doesn’t surprise. However, her Mimmie can’t stand conflict between her people.

CAN’T. STAND. CONFLICT.

I tend to rush into any contentious situation and try to smooth it over. Lilli WILL love her Papa. She MUST hug him and kiss him and have the relationship with her grandfather about which I’ve always dreamed.

Let me just say that it’s not (read: NEVER) well-received.

After a sweet heart-to-heart with Kevin (read: Kevin tells Melinda to BUTT OUT), I’ve torn myself out of the situation and let him work on it, building a bridge back to Lilli’s heart with things like the aforementioned treats and walks to the barn. He’s building it naturally. Organically. He’s allowing her to learn to trust him again and strengthen that bond in his own way. So they’ll have their own relationship, which, incidentally, has absolutely nothing to do with my dreams.

We can’t force love. Only God can make one person bend into another like clay in a sculptor’s hand. If we try, all we’ll end up with is a brittle, rigid piece that hasn’t bonded together, but threatens to break apart at the slightest pressure. That’s not what I’m after when it comes to treasured masterpieces of my family. No. I want our little art gallery to be filled with solid, free-formed and unique pieces, where the natural flow of love, and the touch of the Master Artist, is obvious. I’m grateful that, if that’s the case, each piece will only grow more and more valuable with time.

My little boy wonder just caught my eye again. His heart’s knocking on the door of mine, so I’ve got to go. There’s a space in the gallery that we’re working on filling…just him, his Mimmie and a very creative God.

“Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 MSG

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.” 1 John 3:18 MSG