Babyyyy

So you met Sam, aunt Vicky's baby and you threw a fit that you be allowed to carry Sam. 

I of all people was very completely against the idea as I was concerned about your rough touches...

But the picture(s) proved me wrong

YOU DANCED YOUR WAY IN DAYCARE: WHAT A DAY AT DAYCARE!

Dropping you at daycare was one of the hardest things to do… I remember the very first day when I dropped you at daycare I spent the whole day despising life in North America. Back in Africa, Congo or Malawi to be particular, there is really not such a thing as daycare, at least during my time…So in a word, leaving you at daycare was one of my least favourite things to do.

These pictures were not taken at daycare...

This morning as I got you to daycare there was something special. One of your daycare person was playing a guitar and it was one of our favourite song on “Les roues de l’autobus,” and the guy was playing the English version “The Wheels on the Bus.” This will turn out to be oneof happiest decision to be at daycare. As I placed your stuff in your usual room you were impatiently wanting to be put down, the complete opposite of what usually happens when I take you to day care. As I placed you down, you begun to crawl-dance your way towards where the music was being played. Crawl-dance? That was one of your happiest move, whenever there is something exciting be it food or maman/papa’s arrival from work you’d do your crawl-dance, it was so cute there is no words. You loved dancing and at this time you didn’t want to sit it out, DANCE is the only option! You crawl-danced into the room where the guitar was being played, one of your caretakers took you by the hand to help you stand and there! You joined the few on the dancing floor and I sat there in utter admiration, stood there for like a minute and this time my emotions were the complete opposite of all days, this time I didn’t feel guilty leaving you at daycare, I felt sorry for myself that I was leaving to miss this fun!

I must give credit to the male educator who was playing the guitar, there you go people that’s how you welcome kids to daycare!!! I remember telling your maman that I just admired seeing a male educator because there weren’t many at the time, maybe probably because many people didn’t like/trust male in this field, I did. And I was right J

 This morning, I didn’t hope that after the goodbye cries you’d find a time during the day to dance, there was no need for hope, I left you dancing and when I came back to pick you up you were simply the happiest baby in town, there was no question, you definitely spent this day dancing. I was thankful for hmmm… daycare.

My Heartwritten Letters to You: The Intro...

Dear Grace, 

Here’s my whole heart put on a plain paper. So it’s not with my hand, but with my heart that I am writing this to you to share my experiences with you. I’m very thankful to God for giving me you. I only read that children are a reward from the Lord, now I get to experience that. (Psalm 127: 3)

It will be great if the Lord blesses me with enough wealth that I could share with you in the future, but as for now what I have I give, these words…Mon bébé, if for some reasons I won’t be able to share it all, may I not go without saying these things, you ask “where are you going?” we shall not discuss that now, so here you go: I want to say this;

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder; You’ve been a wonder since the day you were born and dear you always will be (Psalm 139: 14)

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,

May you never take one single breath for granted, May every breath count, because my bébé this life is very temporal, we have no time, no breath to waste…

GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed, true love my love will never leave you empty handed, but stupid and crazy boys will…

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, Always play humble in everything you do, it's the most noble thing you can do…

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens, This’ been papa’s life. Many doors got closed and papa never stopped at the closed doors, bébé so should you…

Bébé as much as I want to, I don’t want you to promise me to be a soccer star, neither do I want you to promise me to go as far as PhD, nor marry the guy I’d love for you to, but bébé you are having to PROMISE me that you'll give faith a fighting chance, actually don’t give it a chance, LIVE it,  you've got no choice, but to live by faith and doing so you’ve got ALL papa’s secrets to success

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance, Gracia....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance because the One in us is GREATER than any mountain there is

Never settle for the path of least resistance, bébé that’s a hero’s life. You’ve got to face it all before you leave a legacy behind you.

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin', papa has got more to say on this, but maybe not for everyone to see, so here bébé we’ll have to take a walk… So we will save this for just the two of us.

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter, bébé never let selfishness, anger, hate win, may love drive you in every step. During our time, we did have a legend by the name Nelson Mandela who had every reason to hate the people who put him in prison for years, he said upon his release “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.” So bébé  never ever allow anyone to put your soul in prison of bitterness and hatred…

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance, Gracia....I hope you dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.

When all is said and done,  bébé  I missed a couple of opportunities, made some mistakes (and those aren’t done yet), but this one thing I did and try to do is living fully for Him who made me… so  bébé  never stop dancing!

From my heart to yours,

~ ~ ~ papa ~ ~ ~

(Written on July 7th, 2014 published December 21st, 2015)


Credit to "I Hope You Dance" song written by Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers and recorded by Lee Ann Womack