Mermaid Blessings
A Letter to Kayla, Age 6
Dear Kayla,
On my last day as your pastor, you gave me a blessing.
I knew it would be a special day. There was music and prayer and laughter and reminders of how much God loves us.
Your church family gave Chuck and me a handmade quilt stitched together with that same love. We had a party at lunch with a special cake.
At the children’s message, I invited you, your little brother, and the others to come close around the baptismal font, which is decorated with shells on the outside. We call it a font because it reminds us of a fountain — or a spring of living water — like the St. Johns River that never runs out.
We poured water into the bowl. As I shared more about God’s love and grace, we splashed it with our hands. Nobody minded getting a little wet.
Then you said, “Look! There are mermaid scales!”
We leaned closer.
And sure enough, there they were.
The inside of the bowl shimmered in the light, with tiny shapes that looked exactly like scales.
Mermaids are beautiful, playful, and curious. With their fishtails they can swim and flip like dolphins.
You blessed me that day when you surprised me. God gives us the gift of imagination, and it sparkled right then. It was a playful moment, full of delight.
Jesus loved to bless children, and they also blessed him. He admired their faith. Their imagination gave him joy!
There are more stories in that font than all the shells on the outside.
But I am pretty sure that this is a new one.
Now I spend my days writing stories. Your imagination gave them a name — Mermaid Blessings.
I am the type of person who likes to plan things out, but you reminded me to use my imagination and share what I see, just as you did. That may be exactly the word that someone is waiting to hear.
You taught me something that day — the best kind of sermon.
Thank you — and bless you, your family, and the church family that gave us this beautiful quilt (pictured below) that shimmers with love.
Peace always,
Pastor Sandra
A a beautifully-written letter to an obviously very special girl. She will treasure your letter for the rest of her life.
Beautiful quilt, beautiful story, excellent reminder: I, too, am a plan-ahead person, and still, Spirit-movement needs room for imagination. Thank you, Sandra.