The twins went to visit the in house store of the high school they will be attending soon. They picked up new water bottles, and brought them to the counter. But the woman on staff discouraged them.
"Maybe you don't want to get those just now." She leaned her head in the direction of a row of poofy gift bags. They took the
hint and bought snacks instead.
The principal came to visit this week. She brought red gift bags with water bottles, pencils, and a planning journal. The twins have recently started writing down goals and to do lists, so this was a welcome prize.
Two score years ago this woman and I were sixteen and running down the halls of the girls dorm, screaming about a test, or a boy. She was the yearbook
editor, known for being responsible, and giving attention to detail. I was the songleader, with a guitar in my hands, writing tunes about the other clubs on campus.
As an administrator she described the missions of both the Academy and the Girls School. They articulated competence, confidence, and connectedness as being central to their purpose. My twins listened intently, drinking in her words as if they were in the water bottles.
"You are lucky to have two parents who love you and want the best for you," she nodded to John and I. "They will always support you." The girls smiled. Gratitude runs deeply in their daily flow of emotions.
"And you are lucky to have these daughters," she spoke to us. Of this I was certain. I swallowed a lump.
Both lucky. How does that work? Doesn't someone have to lose to have another person
win?
The mission of marriage, as God inscribes it, is about connection.
This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2
When
it works, everyone is lucky.
