From my morning reflections in 2017: I woke up this morning an hour before my alarm went off. Through half closed eyes I saw navy blue footed pajamas dotted with green aliens and a mop of blond hair. My 6-year-old son had climbed into bed between me and my husband again. Unlike most mornings when I groan, roll over, and go back to sleep, I opened my eyes and took a deep breath. I inhaled the moment. My youngest son, my baby, was asleep beside me. His small arms fell across my chest. I felt his warmth snuggled against me and no longer cared about the blanket being swallowed by his presence. I savored the embrace. I wondered how many mornings I had let these moments pass, annoyed by being woken early. How many more mornings will I have left being awakened by my son’s need for his mother? In the joy of the moment, I also felt a wistful sadness about missing what I haven’t yet lost. What will I do when these moments are gone? The sweet joy of a child’s love erased any irritation of the early awakening. When I savor the clinging of a little boy to his mother, I see reflections of God’s love for his children. One day my sons will no longer need me to wipe away their tears or to feed them, but we will never outgrow our need for God as a loving parent. Prayer: Dear God, Help me to slow down and to savor the moments that I have now. Help me to recognize the small gifts in life that you provide even in the midst of chaos. You are the loving Father and provide the bread of Life that nurtures me even when I am unaware of your presence. Scripture: Psalm 8 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals[a] that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God,[b] and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
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I feel so many of these moments lately. Knowing that your childbearing years are winding down is a lot more emotional than I expected it to be. I need God's grace to help me be in these moments and not be so rushed and busy to not notice them.
Amen 🙏