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In His Mother's Footsteps
It was a busy day in our Costa Mesa, California,
home. But then, with 10 children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic. On this particular day, however,
I was having trouble doing even routine chores all because of one little boy.
Len who was three at the time, was on my
heels no matter where I went. Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him.
Several times, I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied. "Wouldn't you like to play on the swing set?"
I asked again.
But he simply smiled an innocent smile
and said, "Oh, that's all right, Mommy. I'd rather be in here with you." Then he continued to bounce happily along
behind me. After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose my patience and insisted that he go outside
and play with the other children. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes
and said, "Well Mommy, in Primary my teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps. But I can't see him, so I'm walking
in yours"
I gathered Len in my arms and held
him close. Tears of love and humility spilled over from the prayer that grew in my heart a prayer of thanks for the
simple, yet beautiful perspective of a three-year-old boy.
~Davida Dalton~
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