For Sally in 2020

Dearest Sally,
You will not remember this conversation. I've recorded it to remind you of a time when you adored your Daddy and didn't have the worries of a teenage heart. I could tell you were carrying a heavy burden that day as you began our talk. Once again, I found myself having a conversation that I wasn't prepared for!

"Mommy, what if the husband I have doesn't want to go to church with me?" you said with eyebrows knit in worry. From the onset, it seemed that this had been brewing for a while.

"Well, it isn't like one day you find yourself married to a man you don't know. Before you get to know him, you can ask him if he knows about Jesus."

"So, I say, 'If you want to marry me, then I need to know if you are Christian?'"

"Yes, and you can see how he treats his sisters and mom to guess how he will treat you if you get married. I knew that Daddy was nice to his friends and Rara so I could guess that he would be good to me."

Bursting into tears, "I want to marry someone like Daddy! I love Daddy so much! I don't want to get married and move away from you guys!"

I was taken aback by the outburst, but delighted at the same time. Two years ago you couldn't stand to be near your Daddy. "Sal, you have such a long time before you can get married. You are only six, I think 14 years at least! Maybe you'll just decide you don't want to marry anyone and you can live in our basement and take care of us."

The sobbing ended, eyes wiped and bright at this thought, "Really? Really? I could live with you forever?"

Just a kind reminder for the day that you don't want to live with us and meet a dreamboat who has no interest in the things of God. There was a day that you adored your Daddy and wanted to live under our roof forever. And, I might add, that included a brief discussion involving you caring for us in our old age.

Bunches of Hugs,
Mommy