It works both ways..

Two of my daughters are 8 years old. In the last week, one of them was put on a 30 day IEP while the special Ed crew tries to figure out how to best help her with her educational needs. The other daughter, tested and passed with flying colors for the gifted and talented program.

I wanted to share this because it is just one example of how God puts things together, including the people we are surrounded by. It is an interdependency created by him so we leave fingerprints in each others lives.

Both of these girls are so much to our entire family and friends around us but I want to keep focused for now on what I see them do for each other.

The one that is older is the one that got into gifted and talented. She has always helped her sister learn. There is something about being a peer that she is able to explain some things that a plethora of adults and specialists have not been able to get through. The younger sister is a lover of life and would rather be running around giggling and playing than reading and writing. She sees her sister step up and do something and it inspires her and motivates her to do that too. The child that I once was told couldn't
retain information, can now right her name and remembers a lot of things. I credit her sister for helping her climb over some of those mountains that were in her way.

I think it might be kind of obvious looking one direction why this relationship is helpful, but what about the other direction?

Well my other daughter is very smart, very busy, very goal oriented and very much a serious get-it-done kind of girl. Her lover of life sister will catch her in the middle of writing a story and tickle her, or she will come prancing in the room wearing a mermaid costume and ready to put on a play, or she will bring a purse full of lipgloss and eyeshadow and talk her into doing makeovers. She teaches her sister to have fun, to enjoy the little moments, and to laugh. Things that those with above average intelligence don't always take the time to learn.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 ESV)

These two girls, 8 months apart in age, were once cousins and strangers. When they were 2 years old, God put one of them in our lives for the first time to take into our home, to adopt and to love and for her to grow. It works both ways, she isn't the only one that has grown. Our entire family is exactly as it should be, exactly as God intended. I am reminded after this past weeks events, how even though we are called to leave fingerprints, it's always through the grace of God and His guiding hand that allows us to help others that He has placed in our path.

Can you think of someone you know God had placed in your life where fingerprints go both ways? Do you lift others up and let them lift you ups as well?

A Grateful Believer in Christ
~Johnna