Give them Capes

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A father was left for the weekend with his two young children while his wife attended a weekend away with her new counselors in a newly organized church auxiliary.  As she left, he felt a tug at his pant leg.  He looked into the adoring eyes of his two foot tall daughter and said, "Hey! I know you!" 

"Daddy," she whispered,  "I can fly!"

"Wow!" he exclaimed.  "Can I watch?"  You may know how little girls want to have their daddy's attention at all times.  

"I need a cape.  Will you help me?" she asked.  As she took his finger in her little hands, they made their way to the linen closet where mommy had neatly folded and organized all the towels and sheets.  Daddy picked out the prettiest pink dish towel and clothes pinned it under her chin.  It made the perfect cape!  She looked up, but her eyes remained on the floor.  

"This isn't a cape, is it." Daddy said.  "No, daddy," said the beautiful little girl "this one is the cape" as she pointed behind her without looking, and knew she was pointing at the perfect cape.  

Daddy tenderly took off the shelf and loosely tied the brightly colored beach towel about her neck, and she began to soar.

As this father lovingly watched his daughter fly with the magic of the cape, he realized that every experience that she would have would help her to soar higher and higher. 

One would think that an airplane needs a tailwind (pushing from behind) to get up into the air.  In fact, an airplane can rise faster, and higher, with a headwind (pushing against it).  

Challenges we allow our children to have, or challenges we give them that they will have to face head on, will help them SOAR.  We just need to give them a cape. 

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The  above story (cape and airplane and all), recalled to the best of my pregnant memory, was told this morning in Sacrament Meeting by our visiting High Councilman.  This experience was told with the tender voice of a loving father, who over the years has watched his daughter and other children soar, because of the magic of a cape.  Because of the love in their home.

What love is in my home?  If I give them a cape, will they fly because I believed in them?  Will they fly because they overcame a headwind and were lifted higher, and higher?  Will that headwind make them stronger?  Will they be able to face the storm that's brewing?  Will they have the inner strength and faith to believe in themselves and a loving Heavenly Father who believes in them, too???

This brother's talk hit home.   Give them capes.