5 Things

Abby came home with a simple paper bag on the first day of school. The instructions were very simple, pick 5 things that tell about yourself and the person that you are, bring them to school in your paper bag and share them with the class.

In previous years, she might have asked me to help her select the items that would go in the bag but this year, she didn't ask for help and so I left her to decide. As she got ready to go to bed that evening, I asked her if she would show me her bag and tell me about the items.

The first item out was a lime green highlighter. I smiled because I knew just what she she was going to say. "This is my favorite color in the world."

The second item was a an "All Access Pass" from the Rockin' Roller Coaster at Disney Studio's. Her dad had convinced her to ride (over my whispered objections that she would likely die of fright on the ride) and this pass is what she bought after she joyously exited the ride and yelled, "Let's do it again!"

The third item was a military coin that her Dad brought back from Kuwait where he was deployed when she was three. She is so proud of our family and their military service and she doesn't usually miss an opportunity to share.

The fourth item made my throat catch. It was her Tinkerbell necklace that I bought her for her birthday several years ago. It is special to her because I picked it out just for her. I called her "Tink" when she was a teeny little girl and she will still answer to it when I call her.

The fifth item came out of the bag and I didn't say anything. I just waited for her to tell me about it. "This is my cross Mama and I am taking it because I am a Christian and I love Jesus."

I had trouble finding any words at all.

Such a simple statement from Abby about her faith but it touched me in such a deep way. She wasn't worried about what she was going to share, about what others thought about her. She just knew that it was one of the five things about her and she had to share it. Maybe that is why we are called to become as little children.

Even though the words felt inadequate, I ended up gathering her up in my arms and telling her how proud I was of her. I never did quite find the words to tell her that I learned more from her that day, than she learned from me.