God DOES Answer Prayers

After not laying eyes on one of my wayward daughters (Nikki) for almost two years, I bumped into her today quite by accident. When I first saw her and realized who she was, my first inclination was to tell her what a dirt bag she is and remind her of all the pain and internal grief Kari and I have suffered because of her since 2004.

In one of those surrealistic moments where a second seems like an hour, I realized, "What difference does it make? If I scream and yell I will only continue the bitterness that I have felt in my heart for so very long." I long ago realized all the things I did wrong with her and maybe...just maybe, she too has had the same enlightening thoughts.

I know it sounds contrite but I asked myself, "What would JC have done in this situation?" Then I had a clear vision in my head of Jesus clearing the money changers from the Temple. HE WAS PISSED that they had defiled the Holy Temple. But rather than exploding and losing control, He bent down and weaved a whip...thereby holding in check his anger and keeping his self control....THEN he kicked butt and didn't take names.

If I had lost control with Nikki I would have invalidated all the things I have tried so very hard to learn and that Kari has so lovingly taught me during the past few years.

I looked Nikki straight in the eyes and said, as lovingly and as fatherly-like as I could, "Hi Nikki...I'm so very glad to see you." She said, "Hi...yeah, it's been a long time. See, I have a baby now (holding up the baby carrier). Why didn't you call me?" I said, "Well, Nikki, it's kind of hard for me to call you when I don't know your number and don't have a clue where you are at." She said, "Oh, yeah, huh.... Well here's my number...."

We talked for about 10 minutes and then when I felt it was time to go I said, "Can I give you a hug?" She said, "Sure." and we did and then I said, "I'll call you tonight or tomorrow."

I turned to walk away and then had a thought. I turned back around and almost blurted out how much I missed her and how desperately I wanted to have a family relationship with her and her baby and I wanted to cry and beg for her forgiveness for my part in the hurtfulness that had happened between us.  Instead I said, "By the way... Sophia is cute...but there is one thing I don't care for about her...She's got more hair than I do and she's only six weeks old." HA HA HA. We both laughed and I turned and walked away knowing that with time the giving and the receiving of forgiveness will take care of itself.

Let me introduce you to my newest grandbaby....Sophia Nikkole Boisvert... and her mommy Nikki.

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