A childhood Sacrifice

A childhood Reflection

The year I was to turn eight years old was a year of lessons and life changes. I had befriended a girl at school named Jamie. I learned later in life that she was the half-sister to my half-sister. At this age I had no knowledge that I had a sister, having grown up with two brothers, one younger and one older.

This new friend was beautiful and sweet and very impoverished, it seemed. I knew that when I would walk to her house to play she was always embarrassed about her home, and though I wasn’t sure why, I didn’t want her to not have fun because we were at her place, so I devised a plan.

I told a fat lie and told her mother I was having a birthday party at my house the next day and really wanted her to come at ten o’clock, the next day being a non-school day. I had wrapped up a couple of my dolls and tied bows around them and cleaned my room, offered to help my mom make sandwiches, and then told my mom what I had done. I told her how much I wanted her to come and play with me at my house because she often seemed afraid for me to visit her house, and that if my mom would do this for me I would not have a birthday that year.

My mom, angry, looked at me with puzzlement and said fine, we need to bake a cake and go by the store. I explained what time I was expecting my friend, so Mom made haste. We baked a cake, bought some crayons, coloring books, and bubbles. We had sandwiches and chips. I put on my favorite pink dress and Mom tied ribbons in my hair.

When my friend arrived, Mom smiled and thanked her mother for bringing her daughter. We had played tea party with my dolls, colored in the pages, had cake and sandwiches. My friend Jamie was not afraid and her mind was peaceful. It was a glorious short birthday.

A couple hours later it was time to say goodbye to my friend and face the harsh reality that I was in soooo much trouble for asking my mother to go along with my lie, as it was not my birthday. And I accepted I was in for a birthday spanking like I had never had before. It hurt, and I willingly took it with tears in my eyes but joy in my heart because I gave my birthday away to my friend so she could be a happy playmate without fear.

I did not have another birthday that year. I understood that and did not ask when my day came and went. I did remember and prayed a repentant prayer in observance of my sinful nature. Though I was a child, I knew right from wrong. With thanksgiving in my heart I thanked the Lord for that lesson and my mother for covering my sin.

I learned later in life she was related to me, and my heart found so much more meaning than just the reason white lies are sometimes told to keep from hurting people whose hearts are tender or hurting from feeling burdened by their circumstances. I too have needed this act of grace.

I learned that we are sometimes asked to save face for the sake of our loved ones and that love covers a multitude of sins. I also learned that there is always a consequence for sinning, no matter if the reason was for someone else’s good. We have to weigh the outcome for ourselves and judge if the sacrifice is worth the cost.

In my case it was selfish in that I wanted to play with her at my house, but it was because I saw how afraid or sad she seemed at her home. I wanted to gift her a day of unhindered fun. I had prayed for her as a girl that though she doesn’t probably remember this, it lives on in me even now at my age in mid-life.

A birthday I will remember.

From my quiet heart to yours …

— Spring Lynn Booth

http://whispers-in-the-quiet.org
Email: Hopeministries2010@yahoo.com
FB Page: A Box of Sox Ministry
My URL: https://gravatar.com/springlynnbooth

Whispers In The Quiet

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