Greater Love

Greater love hath no little girl than to give up her socks for her sister.

Or at least that is how the scripture should have read today (Oct.16).

There is so much I love about being a mom, and more especially being able to be a mom that gets to spend a majority of our waking time WITH my children. I can't imagine how empty I would feel if I missed out on experiences like this one today.

We were getting ready to leave. I asked my girls to put socks and shoes on. I checked their feet. I reiterated the need for socks and shoes. One daughter fixed the missing sock problem. The other chose to go sockless. As we were out and about, we stopped for some food. As we were driving to our destination they began to question where we would end up... Burger King, Sonic, McDonald's? I gave them a hint...  it begins with a C. Chick-fil-A. Then the important questions began, "Chick-fil-A with a play place?"

Yes, I allow my kids to play in restaurant play places, but only if they have socks on.
No, both of my girls did not have socks on.
No, I would not budge just this once to allow a sockless playing.
(yes, I am using sockless even though it does not appear to be a real word).

The tears and whining began.

Fortunately, so did an amazing sympathy. One daughter, in an effort to comfort her sister said, "I know, you can use my socks and then you can play!"

I decided to just watch and see how this would pan out and not interfere right away.

Both girls are excited to go inside. We get out of the van and start for the door.

The sharing sister reconsiders her plan, "maybe you can use my socks to play for a little bit and then I can play."

We get inside. Both girls dutifully sit at a table first. Things are getting close, the time for sacrifice is nearly upon my daughter. She reconsiders again, and offers "I know you can watch me play and pretend it is you."

They ask for permission and (after ordering) we head to the play place. The girls are fully in the moment, the telling time has come. Will the sister truely share her socks, sacrificing her own play time for her sister.

She isn't ready. She comforts her sister with a comment about her playing now and sharing the socks after she eats.

The sockless sister cries. I comfort her, "I too would be sad if I chose not to wear socks and couldn't play." The random, concerned stranger girl explains, "she is crying because I told her we were leaving soon and she would only have her sister and THAT girl to play with." (this was the sweetest, egocentric explanation ever!)

The sockless sister chose to join us non-players at the table.

The sharing sister played for a while and then joined us for lunch. 

The sockless sister reminded her of her prior promise of sharing her socks after lunch. I watched the struggle, I could see the desire in my young child to help someone she loved so much. Then, she would realize the sacrifice that would require of her. She racked her brain for any alternative to the situation, any other way that they could both play and have the happiness. There was no other option. She began to remove her socks. Having no way to make both her and her sister happy, she chose to give up her chance at happiness for her sister. Greater love hath no little girl than to give up her socks for her sister.

It was then, that we at last pulled out a second pair of socks from the van. Both girls wore socks and played happily in the playplace together.

I have since reflected on this. How many times did our Savior reconsider His offer? How many times was He not yet ready to fulfill such a huge promise? How hard did he rack his brain for another solution, one that could provide us with eternal happiness without the pain to Himself?
 Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

I pray that I learn to more fully give my life to others. That I can more lovingly submit to the will of our Heavenly Father. I am grateful for the great example that my daughters set for me. I am grateful to be able to be with them and see these great moments unfold.