“I was painting furniture in the garage, and my 3-year-old daughter was drawing with crayons on the concrete floor.
Suddenly, she said, ‘I’m glad God made you my mom.’ I wasn’t prepared for that and asked again, ‘What?’ This time, she phrased it more clumsily: ‘I’m happy that you are my mother of God.’
Tears welled up in my eyes. Then, my little one began to pray, ‘God, thank you for giving me my mom. And thank you (I didn’t understand). Thank you for making my breakfast and for making pumpkin cookies today. I hope we’ll have them.’
Then she opened her eyes and continued painting. ‘Who taught you all that?’ – I asked, trying to overcome the lump in my throat. She’s only three, and I couldn’t imagine there could be so much gratitude in her little heart.
Usually, our daughter never wanted to pray out loud, even when we encouraged her. It’s amazing that her little heart can hold more love than I could ever imagine, and her thoughts can encompass concepts like God, love, and gratitude.
‘Thank you, Sheila,’ I said with a smile. ‘I am so blessed that God sent me such a daughter.’ I would have hugged her if my hands weren’t covered in paint, and there wasn’t such a distance between us.
I thought that was the end of the conversation, but my daughter asked another question.
‘Did you have to wait a long time for me, Mom?’ Sheila asked. I’ve told her this story a hundred times, but she wanted to hear it again.
I drew closer to her, ‘Yes, my dear. I asked God for a little one over and over, but He didn’t give me one for a long time. And then when your father and I found out that you were in my belly, we were so happy!
‘Do you know why God took so long to give you a little one?’ the little girl asked. ‘No, dear, I don’t know,’ I replied in surprise.
I looked into her deep blue eyes, which seemed otherworldly; her curly blonde hair let the sunlight pass through. At that moment, it seemed to me that she was a thousand years old.
‘He made me,’ – that answer was enough for me. Of course! It made so much sense! Looking at her in that moment, I realized this child had been asleep for a very long time on God’s chest, as if heaven didn’t want to let her go.
I am writing this for all those who have been praying for the arrival of children for a very long time. I am writing this for those who have already given up hope of having a child. Do not despair, do not be angry with God. He hears your prayers. Right now, He is creating your little one.
I don’t know if you will have children through birth or adoption. It’s not for us to understand how everything works in heaven, but perhaps God doesn’t give you a baby for so long because He is creating a true work of art.
And one day, your little one will say to you: ‘God just made me for a very long time. And that will be your joy. Wait for it.'”
