We were standing in the parking lot outside the grocery store. Beth hopped on her tiptoes and clapped furiously. Emily joined in. Finally, the back door of our minivan slid open. Magic.
"Mommy, my magic claps worked!" Beth was thrilled to learn that she could control our car just by clapping her hands. Now Beth uses her magic claps all the time. She smacks her hands together to raise and lower the garage door. She can make a sliding door at the mall swoosh open and shut just by brushing her palms together. She can even make the car horn beep - one time for each clap.
Beth believes she has a magic touch. She never suspects that I am controlling the car doors and horn with my key fob. She doesn't notice when I press the button on the wall to open and close the garage door. She hasn't figured out that the doors at the mall operate on a sensor. She believes in magic and that is enough.
Yesterday, on the way to Emily's gymnastic class, I asked Beth about her beliefs.
"Beth, do you like magic butterflies or humming birds?" I asked.
"Butterflies!" She shouted.
"Do you like angel kisses or pixie dust?" I said.
"Angel kisses!"
"Do you like the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause?"
"I like the Easter Bunny AND Santa Clause." She chimed. I chuckled. Smart kid. She knows what to believe.
I, on the other hand, don't have a clue. I don't know what to believe. Big Bang Theory or Garden of Eden? I have no idea. I wasn't there. An infinite universe or the end of all time? I don't know. I probably won't be around then either.
Beth is more solid in her convictions. She believes that, whether its flying ponies or fairy princesses, nothing is impossible. She believes she can do anything and be anything. She believes she controls her life. She believes she controls the world.
In Beth's world, nothing is impossible. All it takes is a firmly held belief and a magic clap.
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