Little Soccer Girl

When God handed me my daughter He did not give me a list on how this little girl would be different than her brother. She was tiny. My sister came over the night we came home from the hospital and told me she thought Marlee was a bird. I thought she was delicate. I was wrong.

 She is growing into herself. Underneath her green and black glasses and behind her brown eyes is determined little girl ready to break whatever idea I think she is. Just when I try to guess what her answer will be she does the complete opposite. She has her daddy's math brain and loves to help him do anything with tools. She has lots of words and more questions than allowed in one day. She is as tender hearted as she is mean.  She is a fierce competitor. Team sports are her favorite activities. Any ball will do. I love this photo of her in Belize. She is the orange capped child half the size of the older girls but determined she could hang in their soccer game. She was in her element. 

I hope she will remember this soccer field in Belize more than any other field she plays on.  You see on this field it isn't pride, winning or goals. It is the gospel. 

This weekend she will start with a new soccer team on a different field. She will put on her soccer cleats and wear number 7. She will play hard. She always does. People will cheer for her, others will cheer against her. She will hear it all. 

I pray the little soccer girl with a big heart hears Him louder than the world around her. 

When others tell her she isn't good enough, God says "you are fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalms139:14 ESV)

When she feels alone, God says"I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5 ESV)

When she feels afraid, God says "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)