INDIA’S OVERTURE
LET’S REWIND IT A BIT:
To when our youngest child, India, was 5 years old. An adorable doll-baby with bangs and a button nose. She was absolutely- irresistible! And what a personality…
BACKGROUND:
If there was ever an issue with any of my 4 children, AJ & I always made a point to sit down at the kitchen table and address it until we reached a resolution. Well, I guess, little India had an issue with her mother & I. You see, we were divorced for 2 years and forgone dating just [to be there] for our 4 children, (but at two separate residences). ☹
INDIA’S OVERTURE:
India: “Sit down Daddy.”
Me: “Okay” (I obliged thinking it was cute. Little did I suspect the profundity that was about to be spouted out of a 5-year-old…Out of the mouth of babes!)
India: “You guys got to get together. This is together …” (She took off her stretch-bead necklace & demonstrated how all the beads were close together)
India: “This is NOT together…” (Stretching the beads and leaving 1 bead all alone by itself, in the center).
Me: “Hold up, wa-wa-wait…did your Mother tell you to say this?” (I’m thinking, where is she going with this? This is way too deep for a child to conjure up, an adult had to orchestrate this conversation.)
India: “No.” (Quickly dismissing my suspicions.)
India (continued): “This is together…” (She moved the Pepper Shaker- NEXT to the Salt Shaker)
India: “This is NOT together…” (Moving the Pepper Shaker- AWAY from the Salt Shaker)
India: “You guys got to get together…If you AREN’T together and if I want to go home- Mommy will take me to HER house or you will take me to YOUR house. But I won’t know where MY HOME is.”
My heart STOPPED!..COME ON!..Man, that just KILLED ME. I’m thinking, what have we done to our poor child?
India (continued): “If you don’t get together: You might have a girlfriend or Mommy might find a boyfriend.”
Wooooooooo- that HURT! FYI: AJ & I went out of our way to not expose her to anyone of the opposite sex. We both were NOT dating, nor did we have any intentions to. We always thought we are sheltering her, and now here she is running down scenarios quite to the contrary…How would she know this?! After reminiscing the matter, we believe India got the idea from watching the Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan. Any way you look at it…OUCH!!!!!!!
India (in conclusion): “So, are you guys going to GET TOGETHER?” (She knew that as a man of my word, if I say ‘yes’ it’s a done deal.)
Me: “Let me think about it” (Holding up my hands in an attempt to slow things down.) “I have to speak to your mother, and we’ll get back to you, okay?”
India: “Okay.”
POST OVERTURE:
I immediately called AJ & she was just as floored as I was with this! Well, that was the impetus that brought our fragmented family back to together again. 😊…I believe Jah spoke through our beautiful daughter, probably the only one, (at that point in my life), that would open my heart again. After months of counselling, long walks together, hard conversations, a thousand tears, countless acts of undeserved kindness, daily forgiveness (& I mean literally DAILY), and rekindled passions (that we ALWAYS had)- AJ & I remarried.
A’ LA (THE SPINNERS- I’LL BE AROUND):
‘There's always a chance
A tiny spark will remain
And sparks turn into flames
And love can burn once again…’
P.S.
When we re-did our vows, India was our Witness & she signed her name as any 5-year-old would (with squiggly lines- but oh sooooooo precious, endearing, & memorable). Praise Jah! And a special shout out to our dear one, India, for her OVERTURE. Forever 💘 2Gether….from the Lookout Post.