…as promised!

 

He is almost 3.5 years old, going on 75…a Sage, an old soul. He is very compassionate and as this story will tell, very in tune with the Creator.

 

…several days ago upon leaving the house to go to “the church house” as my kids call it, Thomas spotted a Firefly (aka Lightening Bug if you are from the south) on our front door (which is 3/4 glass panes so he saw it from the inside of the house).  He wanted to touch and hold it, but I quickly told him that if you really want to see his full potential, you must touch and hold him at night!!!

 

If there happens to be someone out there who has never seen a Firefly, their backsides light up and you can chase them all over your yard in the muggy evening of Summer! They truly are beautiful. Anyway…

 

…Thomas was fine with this and as soon as we got home was VERY excited to see his new friend still camped out on our door (it must have been too hot to fly some place safer…). Of course he wanted to hold him and I said that was fine & that Fireflies don’t bite or sting to my knowledge, but failed to tell him that when a bug crawls on you, it might tickle a little bit. Well….I am sure you see where this is going…it DID tickle him, he droped the bug on his foot and as soon as he felt him move across his toes he started stomping his foot….Now we have a dead Firefly.

 

I was too hard on him about it (I said something along the lines of, “Thomas! I told you they don’t sting or bite! Why were you scared of him? Now he is dead and dead Fireflies don’t light up”!) Mom, if you are reading this- I am TOO old for a spanking. I won’t be so hard on him next time. The story’s ending is bittersweet to me…

 

…later on that night while I was getting the kids ready for bed and I was with Ava, I could hear Thomas in the bathroom washing his hands and saying very softly, “God, I am sorry, I didn’t mean to squish the ‘Lighting Bug’. I know you made him, I didn’t mean to”.  I paused to listen and fought back tears as I realized how tender his little heart is. How many times do I “squish” him with my attitude, or my sharp tongue? I need his sensitivity. God help me to handle him gently. He is my number one Big Boy! My sweet Thomas…