Thinking About the Toy Aisle

Graduation time is here.

Oddly enough, my thoughts haven’t been on caps, gowns, diplomas, or even the future. I know all those things are important. They mark seasons of life. But my mind has been somewhere else.

I’ve been thinking about, of all things, press-on nails and the toy aisle at Dollar General. I’ve been thinking about the sound little plastic princess shoes make when they’re trying to keep up with you. I’ve been thinking about the excitement in the eyes of a little girl when I bought her a toy she didn’t need…but wanted with all her heart.

I’ve been thinking about the little blonde-haired girl who wanted to go with me on every errand, not because we had anything important to do…but just because she wanted to be there.

I remember one night in particular. We were riding in my truck with the windows down, eating boiled peanuts and tossing the shells out the window. Out of nowhere she said, “This is the best night ever.”

And she meant it.

This is the same little girl I once bribed with a Happy Meal if she would just stop talking. She was born talking. It was as if she had so much to say and was afraid time would run out before she could get it all out.

I’ve also been thinking about answered prayers.

I remember how her mother and I prayed for a child who would be compassionate, have a tender heart, and come to know the Lord at a young age.

And I remember the night she did.

I can still hear her little voice asking Jesus to save her. And I know He did.

I remember night after night of homework, when we both wanted to drop out of math so we could talk about things that mattered more…history, theology, and politics.

Now here we are.

Don’t take this wrong. I’m excited to see what the Lord does with her life. She is smart, strong, and, thankfully, still tender-hearted and compassionate. I know the world will try to beat some of that out of her. I pray it never does. Whatever she chooses to do, she’ll do it well, because that’s just who she is.

It’s not that I don’t want her to grow up.

It’s just that, this graduation season, my mind keeps wandering back to boiled peanuts…little plastic princess shoes…and the toy aisle at Dollar General.

Scott Sullivan – The Notebook