The Power of a Game

When my daughter, Gabriella, was about 3 or 4, her favorite game was something she called “Saja-gadoo”.  She would sit face to face with us with enough space for a toy on the ground between us.

Then she would wave her magic wand, close her eyes, and say “Saja-gadoo, saja-gadoo, make this toy go away!”  When she opened her eyes, she was always amazed at her magical powers as the toy had disappeared.  Next, she would cast a reverse spell and watch in amazement as the item reappeared. Or even better, the item reappeared transformed or with a “partner”.  Of course, she was unaware that her “powers” were completely contingent on the person sitting opposite her and their ability to comply. 

One day when she was in middle school, she was facing a difficult situation at school and I wished I had that “power” she used to "summon" to take her pain away.  She had submitted some drawings to be displayed as “Artist of the month” to her teacher.  They had taken days or weeks to complete and the teacher was telling her she hadn’t turned them into her.  Deep down I wished I could wave a wand and make the teacher disappear but I knew this was something Gabriella had to go through and work out on her own. 

When I see my children suffer, I feel as if I would do anything to take away the pain, but I have to remind myself of 2Corinthians 12:8, “My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  It’s hard enough for me to remember this when I suffer or face a trial, but it’s even more difficult when it’s out of my hands and I just have to stand by.  All I could do was offer consolation.  Yes, we discussed how next time we’ll make copies… and yes, we commiserated on how everyone, even adults, make mistakes and wrongly persecute people… and yes, we need to forgive and move on.  But the thing that brought the most consolation was simply being beside her and saying, “That’s so frustrating…I’m so sorry that happened to you.” 

A week later, the teacher found the sketches.  Subsequently, the works would be able to be displayed for an extended time that would work out better in the end.  I was reminded of Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts and neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

This taught me something important about watching my daughters go through difficulties. The next time they had to face a trial, I would play the “Saja-gadoo” game Gabriella taught me…but for that round I would close my eyes with her and wait in joyful expectation of what only God can do.