My husband gave me that “I’m-so-glad-you’re-home” look as I walked through the front door. “What’s wrong?” I asked, unloading my burden of nearly a dozen groceries bags. “Did Sammy have a good time at the birthday party?”
“Um, yes she did. At least I thought so until we got in the car. She started crying and hasn’t stopped. I felt like you should talk to her.”
I pressed my lips together, my heart flooded with concern. Somehow, I had known Sammy wasn’t ready to go to a birthday party yet, not with those other kids…
“She’s in her room?”
“Yes. I’ll put up the groceries.”
Opening the bedroom door, I tiptoed in, wrapping my arms around Sammy’s shaking shoulders.
“Sammy love, what’s wrong?”
“They’re mean, they’re all so mean!”
“Everybody, especially Adrian. Every time we’re around new kids, right in front of them, she asks, “What’s your favourite color Sammy?” She does it on purpose Mama. She’s mean!”
I held Sammy close, praying for wisdom.
After several moments of silence, Sammy asked a question that answered my prayer.
“Mama, what do colors really look like?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Let’s go outside and I’ll tell you.”
Holding hands, we stepped into the invigorating sunshine.
“Sammy love, colors aren’t something you just see. They’re something you feel. The sun is yellow, but that’s not what you see, you feel the warmth and comfort it brings. Close your eyes and turn your face to the sun. How does it make you feel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try it Sammy. Feel it.”
“Happy I guess. Like I wanna smile.”
“That’s right, yellow is a happy color. When you think of yellow, think of how the sunshine makes you feel.”
“I think I would like the color yellow Mama.”
“Okay, let’s think of another color.” I led Sammy to the old tire swing hanging from the oak tree, placing her hand on the cool rubber. “Remember I told you how Uncle Robby and I used to play out here when we were your age?”
“Yeah, and you said Uncle Robby always took care of you.”
“Yes he did. And when he grew up, Robby became a soldier to protect our country and he was wounded in battle. When he came home, he was given a medal called the Purple Heart. Purple is the color for courage. How does Uncle Robby make you feel?”
“Proud, because he’s so brave.”
“That’s how the color purple makes me feel. Now, remember when you gave your heart to Jesus and He took away your sins?”
“The Bible says when we accept Christ, He washes us as white as snow. White is a very clean and pure color and it feels like you do when God forgives you.”
“White is the best color, Mama.”
“It’s one of my favourites on account of how it makes me feel, not because of what I see.”
I crossed my legs and sat on the grass, tugging Sammy down beside me.
“Feel the blades of grass. They’re the color green and green covers much of God’s creation. Green is alive and new and fresh. Do you feel that when you walk barefoot through the grass?”
“Yes ma’am. The grass tickles my feet.” Sammy giggled.
Relieved, I continued. “And then there’s orange. God puts out many orange colors in the fall time. Pumpkins are orange, the leaves turn different shades of orange-“
“Orange makes me feel close to our family.”
I looked at Sammy in surprise. “Why is that?”
“Because of Thanksgiving. There’s lots of orange during Thanksgiving and that’s when we’re all together as a family. It feels so good.”
“Yes it does. Orange is like our family color isn’t it?”
Sammy was quiet for a moment. “What about red Mama? Adrian says she looks so pretty in red.”
“Ah, Sammy love, red is a beautiful color to see. But that’s nothing compared to how red makes me feel.”
I wrapped Sammy up in my arms, holding her to my beating heart.
“The first time I held you was the moment I truly understood the color red. Red is love. And you awakened a love in me I never knew before.”
Sammy pulled back a little and I looked into her watery, unseeing eyes.
“Thank you Mama. From now on, when someone asks me what my favourite color is, I know what to say. Red, because it makes me feel just how much my Mama loves me.”
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