Quite the Character

Her commitment to character astounds me.

some secret six year old desire to be a shape shifter

gracefully slithering into different disguises

walking to her craftily composed epic soundtrack

in the playground of her imagination.

Designing new shapes and lines with eyes of intent

and a tongue out to the side.

Always singing a new song that makes us lean in to listen.

Two years now of inventing her own character

No chance in a trick-or-treat of meeting her twin on the streets

originality the name of the game.

Last year, it was Sylon, the ninja princess,

yielding her sword of truth and quick-moving hands,

fighting for justice in hot pink and glitter.

This year Frostina, an icy heroine,

who can freeze objects as well as time,

fighting for justice, caped for battle,

and missing her two front teeth.

Known for her one-liners and endless energy

a world where everything is more than it seems

a folded blanket could be the roof of the fort

a marker, paper and glue keys to a storybook world

and a towel the cape that makes you fly.

She inspires me, challenges me, and makes me dream.

And I dream of what You will do with all this

how it could last and grow with her height

Until she falls into Your arms instead of ours

holding onto her gift of imagination

shape shifting into a new heroine for You

fighting for justice with a sword of truth

that's really a leather bound book

in her quick-moving hands.
Still designing new shapes and lines with eyes of intent
and a tongue out to the side.

Always singing a new song that makes us lean in to listen.

Still known for her one-liners and endless energy
and living in a world where everything is more than it seems
where Your Son is on the street corner waiting to be fed

Your Spirit is in the storybook truth, sticking in her mind like glue

and You are the purpose that keeps her flying.

And at the end of her life, all who knew her,

especially You,

would smile and say,

"Her commitment to character astounds me."

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Epehesians 4:14-16

"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius."

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

"He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD." Psalm 40:3

"My faith is not what I write about or what I paint about, but it is the light by which I see."Flannery O'Conner