Courage Dancing

Last week AnnaJaye fell down the stairs.  We've experienced the stair scare one other time at our old house with Abigail.  In fact, it has become one of those experiences that I've told so many times that somehow I seem to sound more and more like an action figure. I heard the tumble...rounded the corner jumped the flight of stairs and caught her right before she slammed into the wall.  Pretty incredible i know.  There was no such display of manliness with AnnaJaye.  I heard the tumble, ran up the stairs and didn't know what to do. One of her front teeth was bent back towards her throat, one of her lateral teeth was broke in half and her gums were all scratched up.  

There is a lot that i can handle as a parent.  Scraped knees, colds and cuts are all part of the deal. But, when i saw her mouth bleeding and heard her screaming it really messed me up.  We had to go to the dentist the following Monday to have her checked out which was an experience, he then refered us to a pediatriac dentist so we're still not sure what will happen.  Nonetheless, i've found myself on her about everything the last few days, "Be careful...watch out...slow down..." scared that she's going to hurt herself again. 

Yesterday, we were at the Brooks house swimming and Abigail started jumping off of the step into the pool, going under water all the way.  I was just as scared as i was excited.  We were all clapping for her and celebrating her courage. Then i asked AnnaJaye if she wanted me to help her jump off of the step and she said, "No Way!"  In that moment, i began to wonder how much of her willingness to take chances, to have courage, and to face her fears would be encouraged and/or limited by my words.

In the book of Joshua, he is told four times in chapter 1 to be, "Strong and Courageous," before we find him in chapter 3 displaying these attributes.  As a father, i need to hear these words and be intentional about speaking them into the lives of the girls.  Katie has always wanted a tattoo of 'courage dancing'.  We don't have a clue what that is or what it would look like, i don't even know what that means.  But as we speak words strength and courage into the lives of the girls i believe we'll see it lived out in them.  I pray that you be reminded today of your ability to empower others to live life with strength and courage.