As I put my little girl down for bed tonight, she asked me to stay and cuddle with her. She doesn’t always ask and I don’t always take the time to offer. Tonight was special. I lay beside my first born who is now three years old and watched her profile in the quickly fleeting light. Her soft brown hair spilled across the pillow tickling my nose as I pretended to sleep. I peeked at her as she peeked at me. Silent tears of joy coated my corner of her pillow. She is growing faster than I could have ever imagined and I don’t want to miss an instant. As I watched her rub her tired eyes, fighting sleep as she continuously grinned that I was still there, my heart felt full – full to the brim with love. A prayer I once wrote flooded my thoughts and I wanted to share it with fellow moms. There are so many lost opportunities in this brief life we live – Lord, help me know when to stop and catch those sweet opportunities to my heart and hold tight.
~A Mother’s Prayer~
By: Emily Henson
I can kiss a finger when it’s hurt
and when they fall brush off the dirt.
I’ll gladly bend to tie a shoe
and mend each and every tear brand new.
But may God grant me the graces
to look into their upturned faces
on frenzied days when I’ve lost control
and take the time to nurture a soul.
The wash my hands will roughen and chap
but I’ll tuck them in every nap.
I’ll clean the floors on which they play
and shoo the dust bunnies far away.
But may God help me do my part
to see to the needs of their heart
even when chores remain undone
for dust can wait till tomorrow’s sun.
That song they love with the silly rhyme
I’ll sing for them a hundredth time.
Nails will be clean with daily bath.
Rules of writing learned along with math.
But God help me to remember
that more in their minds than lessons stir.
While I stay busy with my hands
they may fly off to Neverlands.
While a cleanly house is noteworthy
and tasks await before I’m free,
I’ll blink my eyes and they’ll be grown
but sweet moments I want to have known.
E.A. Henson Books 