Gliding fingers along the list of words, Madelyn stopped at "beauty". She sings beauty when princesses grace our television screen. She twirls in delight in imaginary dress. She delights in seeing a sad face come to live with a smile. She loves all things beautiful.
Her challenge for the school year: To encounter beauty. To seek it in the classroom, to find it in the hearts and actions of her friends, to discover it as she creates and to see it in herself.
Sitting at dinner table, I ask, "How did you see beauty today?"
"When I went with you to find Addie."
Little Addie was lost. A kindergartener whose first day of school ended in tears when she missed the bus. I found her sitting on the floor in a corner of Madelyn's first grade classroom crying.
At recess, the teacher invited Madelyn to befriend Addie and to stay with her at all times, only Madelyn was somehow separated from this little kindergartener and now she was lost.
We went to search for her. The playground was completely empty. "The last time I saw her, she was sitting under the shade by hopscotch." I called out before we reached the shade. "Addie!! Addie!!"
"HERE I AM!" We turned around and a huge smile came on her face. Little Madelyn ran to hug her and guide her back to class.
At the dinner table, sharing our day, Madelyn said she failed Addie. She left her alone, but finding her again was beauty. I assured her she didn't fail. We all lose our way sometimes.
I'm sure there is One who feels the same. Although He never fails us, we get lost and He joins the chorus of angels rejoicing when He hears us say, "Here I am!"
What could be more beautiful than that?
