She is 6 now. Erin made sure we knew exactly when she was born, and she was not permitted to say she was six until after lunch on Friday. But she made it. She is 6.
And she is so spectacular. She is power and push and idea and follow-through. She is all at once and everywhere. She is adventure and bravery and excitement and try-it-all. She is spunky. She is Meg.
But she is also growing up. This year, she’s so much deeper than she’s been. She was the first to climb the doorways until her head bumped the top. But she would not, would not, set foot inside the lighthouse that the other 3 climbed with Daddy on vacation this year. She knew that wasn’t her thing. She knew it. She owned it. And she waved from the ground…no regrets!
She started Kindergarten this fall. She was very nervous and ready and excited and scared. She can already read, but she’s learning so much about other, much more valuable things, like how to appreciate her Autistic classmate and how to be a friend and how to be brave and kind and fail, all in one day, and still start each new day with God at her side.
I find this little version of me both challenging and reassuring. Her natural bent is to go forward. Have the idea…DO the idea. She doesn’t always PLAN the idea, but she takes it on in huge bites anyway. She is hard-headed, but soft-hearted. She is easily hurt, if we’re not careful. But she can’t not go forward anyway.
And I hope, with all my heart, that I can guard that part of her. Whatever God’s plan for Megan entails, I want her to push forward, all the way to the heart of it. All the way to His heart. I don’t want to squash her bravery or make her afraid to risk. Be wise, yes. But lose the power of her personality, no.
Dearest Megan, Mommy loves you more than I can say. You are life and color and flame and laughter. You have the power to change the world, and I will always be here for you, cheering you on. You have made such a difference in my life, and I cannot wait to see what the world will become because you are in it.
