Power of Persuasion

It's amazing what adults will do for a child.

I knew that Maddie (3.8 years old) had some sway on every member of the family, but until Sunday afternoon, I had no idea how much of an influence she could be.

I found myself in the family room late in the afternoon, as I was searching the house for everyone else. I came upon a somber scene - Maddie "up front," as it were with a candle snuffer as a microphone, and five adults seated around her on the couches and leather chair, each with a book, pretending to read. As I walked in, Maddie said, "You can have a seat. Let me get you a hymnal." I wasn't aware she even knew what a hymnal was - her church at home doesn't have them.

I sat on the carpet and took the book that I was given, Zoo Animals, and opened it to the middle, where the page was falling out. Maddie proceeded with the event.

It was church. Not just any church, but a Methodist service. Earlier that day had been Maddie's first experience in an entire Methodist service, and she needed to process it by acting it out. She was the pastor, "Today we're gonna talk about God, guys," she kept saying.

Then she'd sing a song, that had a lot to do with "just because" and "God loves me" and "God loves you." No one could really figure out what the song was, but I had tears streaming down my face, nonetheless. It was hilarious. She was so serious as she sang.

Then came the disturbing part. "Lana." She walked towards me, grabbed my hand and attempted to lift me from my seat on the floor. "It's your turn to sing."

I did my best to assure her that Grandma, in fact, was a great singer and should be the one to sing. All the while, Grandma was telling Maddie that I had the nicest singing voice. (Neither of these statements - by me or my mom - are true, by the way.) Maddie grew impatient.

"Everybody has to sing!"

She chose a singer - Aunt Leslie. Maddie then indicated that she, herself, would be the dancer, this time around. Dancer? I thought this was a Methodist service, you say. Well, this is true, and while liturgical dance isn't common in this setting, an very sweet 8-year-old girl happened to do a dance involving a shiny ribbon on a stick that very morning in church. Maddie had a pink scarf that would substitute nicely for the ribbon on a stick.

So, Leslie sang; Maddie danced.
Then, Grandma sang; Maddie danced.
Then, Maddie sang; Lana danced.
Then, Maddie sang; Leslie danced.

It continued. But when she extended the candle-snuffer/microphone to Papa (her grandpa, my dad) he simply shook his head, and there was no argument. [Maddie had, an hour before, jumped on my dad while he'd been sleeping. In the shock of sharp knees hitting his chest, he'd jerked his arms toward his face and knocked her in the nose. She promptly sat down on the coffee table and explained to Papa why she didn't like being struck in the nose. He was so not amused.]

How is it that this highly imaginative little girl can get her family to do almost anything for her. If there had been hidden video cameras, that may have been the most embarrassing afternoon of my life. Luckily, no one even had a camera handy. We were all saved, for sure!