Painting the Sky

Downtown Winston Salem at sunset (photo credit)

Being born and raised in North Carolina, I am a bit partial to the beauty that surrounds us here.  I feel like God particularly likes to show off in the sunsets.  I always try to take a picture, but I can never, ever capture the vividness of the colors.

One day, as Caroline and I were driving somewhere, I pointed to the sky and told her to look at the clouds and the colors.  I went on and on about how beautiful they were and how they looked like God had painted them.  She took in a dramatic deep breath and said, 'Oh my goodness.  They are beautiful!'  So, looking at the clouds became one of our 'things'.  I would point them out any time the sky was particularly on fire and she loves when the clouds are pink and orange.  After about a week of this, she said, 'Mommy, I want to paint the clouds!'  Being my mathematical/scientifically-minded self, I immediately went in to how far away the sky was and that we couldn't really touch the clouds, blah, blah, blah.  The next day, she said the same thing again.  This time, though, I heard it differently.  This time it wasn't something that couldn't be done.  It was a two year old, dreaming that anything was possible.  Who was I to tell her she couldn't do something?  So, I told her that she could paint the sky any time that she wants to.  Then we talked about the colors she would use and how she could help God make the sky look beautiful every day.  The next day she told me the same thing.  Never again did I tell her she couldn't.  I helped her dream the biggest dream her little mind could hold.




My sweetest Caroline,

As your momma, it is my job to help keep you grounded and rooted in goodness, while at the same time I am to give you what you will need to fly as high as you possibly can.  In this world, there will be a lot of people and things that try to keep you from reaching your dream.  I hope to never be one of those people.  I promise to be honest with you about my thoughts and fears for any dream you may have, but I hope I can always be the one to give you that first push to get you into the air.  What ever it is that you dream of, my sweet girl, I want you to know that I believe that you can paint any kind of sky you want!