My daughter has tiny feet. She probably always will. After having spoken with many mommys and daddys whose little ones have SB, I have come to realize that little feet are common. Perhaps it is because weight bearing doesn't start till later. Maybe its because some signal traveling along her spine that should tell her feet to "grow" got misdirected or run off the road. Whatever the reason, her feet are small, pudgy and I adore them. I would kiss her piggies regardless of how they looked. They belong to a princess!
Of course, I love her and I want the best for her and as long as it is up to me, I will make her world befitting such a lovely, graceful, delicate creature. But the time will come when it will not be up to me. I want to prepare her for that day. To that end, I have been speaking a new verse over her. Its found in Ephesians 6:13-14. It says, "..Having done all to stand, stand therefore!"
Its a verse in a chapter about "the armor of God" where Paul, the author, compares faith to armor. I will readily admit to being a history nut. I enjoy learning about how different cultures at different times solved similar social problems- including issues of warfare.
Shoes, in Roman times, were especially important. The sandals of soldiers were studded with little metal bits (kind of like early cleats) which allowed them to literally "dig their heels in" and not be knocked off balance. Those same shoes could also be used offensively as weapons when no other weapons were available. The feet of a soldier are his most important commodity.
I look at Evangeline's little feet and when I tell her, "Having done all to stand, stand therefore!" I don't mean "stand up, baby girl and bear weight!" I mean, "Dig in your proverbial heals! Don't let this world knock you off balance. Fear Not! Hold the line! Don't retreat!"
She is a person of great value, talents, worth. At some point though, some unworthy person will try and convince her otherwise. This person or people will make her feel sad, and will make her, for however brief a moment, wonder what she is worth. This will not happen because she has spina bifida. Oh, goodness, that has nothing to do with it. This sort of thing happens to everybody at some point. And when that day comes for her, I want her to be equipped with truth. I want her to dig her heels in and call that person "LIAR!"
I want to raise a daughter who, though her feet be tiny, her spirit stands mighty. I want her ready to take on all comers. And so I speak these words over her. Each. and Every. Day. I tell her that God made her feet mighty, her mind beautiful, her soul triumphant. I tell her that she is equipped to fight any battle she encounters. And someday I will rejoice with her when she tells me that she encountered cruelty but she stood fast, and saw her enemy retreat.
"13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
