the necklace

anyone who knows me knows that i am for the most part very laid back in all aspects.  one particular thing is if i put a piece of jewelry on it is likely to stay on for days, weeks or even years.  i am not one to take my jewelry on and off every day and i can tell you it certainly doesn't go in my jewelry box when it does come off.  it goes right where i happen to be. at my desk, on the kitchen counter, in the car, in my purse. call it what you want but i just don't think it's that important to take my jewelry off every night nor do i mind where it ends up.  i know it's here somewhere;)

anyway, one of my good friends gave me a necklace for my birthday and i put it on immediately.  i kept it on for days and my 5 year old daughter always asked me why are you still wearing that necklace.  i would tell her the same thing every time "i like it and i don't have a reason to take it off yet".  a couple days passed and as i was stepping out of the shower she asked me why i wore the necklace in the shower.  i told her i had no reason to take it off and i didn't think the water from the shower would harm it.

a month passed and i was still wearing my necklace.  ella still noticing that i have not taken it off not even to shower or to go to sleep.  she continues to ask why am i still wearing that necklace.  and i proceed to tell her that there is no significance, i just simply haven't taken it off.

about a week ago, ella was up in her room and after some time passed she came downstairs with a necklace on.  i told her she looked pretty as a princess and she said she loved her necklace.  typically when ella puts jewelry on it last about a half hour.  it tends to rub her skin and irritates her.  that evening i gave her a bath. she told me that she loved that necklace and she could even wear it in the bath. "just like you mommy" she'd say.  i thought that was very sweet and interested me how much of an impact me wearing my necklace left on her. she really thought that was something!

a couple more days passed and ella still had the necklace on.  she had made comments that she can even sleep in that necklace.  she would say i have had this on forever and i even take a bath with it on.  well as i sit and type today, ella still has the necklace on.  she has not taken it off for anything. not for bath time. not for bedtime.

now you might think to yourself, get to the point lady, so what a little girl is trying to be like her mommy.  the point is, me keeping a necklace on had no meaning.  i mostly kept it on out of convenience.  and she picked up on that and wanted to do the same thing.  let this act as a clear example that everything you do in your life is making a big difference in your child's life. whether it's exercising everyday, helping the neighbor with yard work or simply wearing a necklace. your kids look up to you more than you know.  are you who you want your kids to be when they are grown?  if you find no reason to be a good civilian or to be kind, think of the children in your life who look up to you.  be intentional in your parenting.  if me wearing some silly necklace day in and day out made an impact on my daughter's life, imagine how our other actions are affecting them. are you jealous of your friends?  do you talk poorly about people? do you litter? drink too much?  are you careful in your judgements?  do you give all your thanks to the Lord?  are you a slob? are you overweight or depressed?

if you lead a positive, faithful life, hats of to you as you are  impacting the world in a positive way.  but the truth is is that we are all sinners and there are areas we could work on-especially since the kids are watching.  think of the person you are and ask yourself is this who i want my child to be? sometimes we need help to become who we want to be.  don't be ashamed to pray, talk to your doctor or get help from a friend if you are less than what you want to be.  lead by example; you are more powerful than you may know.

ella and her necklace