Mister Eli

While we were at the baseball game the other day one of the players (who happened to be African American) asked Eli where his mom was. We were walking together as a family, and no one else was near us, yet the player looked past us for someone to be Eli’s mom. Of course I smiled, patted Eli’s head, and said, “I’m right here.”

It left me unsettled, doubting we can help Eli establish his identity within our culture. I once read a book where a character commented to another, “You are black on the outside, but white on the inside.” He was insinuating the person was not really a part of the African community. Sometimes seeds of fear take root, and I think that is how we are raising Eli, and he won’t have a real sense of where he belongs.

Then God reminds me of the TRUTH. Eli belongs in His family, where the blood of Christ binds us all together.

We were having a time of family prayer the other day, at a rather serious moment. We gathered in a circle and held hands. After all of about 10 seconds, Eli began saying, “Ring Rosey”. When we ignored his attempt to make us spin around, he dropped hands and began spinning in circles by himself repeating, “Ring Rosey.” So cute!

Here's Eli sitting on a suitcase. We thought he wanted to go on the trip until he told us "Candyinit." He had spied the candy packed inside!