a flower from a boy.

for real ya'll, he was 9 years old.
i went out on a makeshift date with a boy i nanny during the week. he's more of my little brother, and judy, his mom, came with us, of course. he had two ladies on one date. normally i would wag a finger. this time not so much.

and we ate sushi-my favorite food of all time-and yes, that 9 year old ate it.
before we left, jacob picked me a rose out of his backyard. just a small little blossom, and opened every door during the night, for both of us.

its fun to teach him how to treat a woman on a date, and he was totally into it.
he's a precious little lamb, that jake.
his rose was the first flower i ever got on a date. ironic isn't it? i put it in my hair for safe keeping. he thought that was special.

sometimes noah, jacob's older brother is the most precious gentle little boy. i watch both of the boys love on their momma when she gets home from work. she lays multiple kisses on them, and they stroke her hair gently and lovingly. i love how they love on her. in the mornings, jacob runs into his momma's room and gives her eskimo kisses and says "good morning beautiful."
i know, tear.

as i write this i witness a man opening the car door for his girlfriend at a coffee shop i frequent. i am reminded of a lesson i tried to teach noah one day i nannied. he was trying to judo-chop me for fun and i said "noah, noah! gentle!--you need to treat every girl like little rose petals in your hand. like little, tiny baby rose petals" i proceeded to cup my hands two centimeters from his face and mimic how it  should look. he nodded like he understood. the next day he pretended to shoot me with his finger/thumb hand-gun. oh well, i tried.

jake's rose reminded me of that lesson. i don't know where i got it from, but i use it when encouraging girls with broken hearts or christians in the depths of a pit.

God treats us like this. like little rose petals within His huge hands. He poured His love and blessings, His favor, and His righteousness on us, through His son. He fashioned each and every one of us, different, but always beautiful. He set his rose petals down, upon this rock, with the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. we are delicate, we break easily, and one day we will wither-up and die. i look forward to the day that we will return to those hands complete, strong, and eternal.