This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
~ Psalm 118:24 ~
I've been spending more time outside, enjoying beautiful weather. Sunday afternoon I asked for help clearing out some weeds from a front flower bed. After much-appreciated shoveling and pulling, I was left to the fine-tuning.
Sitting there, my hands and thoughts were busy. I was thinking about my sister-in-law and her newborn son. It brought back memories from when my children were babies. There were sleepless nights and times of worry, but also laughter and many tender moments. I felt a twinge of longing and a bit of sadness.
Just as I was getting lost in those thoughts, my little boy of 5 years ran over. He didn't say much, just plopped down next to me. Like he sensed I could really use his company. After catching his breath, he asked what I was doing and if he could help. With that, he brought my focus back.
"Children have neither past nor
future; they enjoy the present,
which very few of us do."
~ Jean de la Bruyere ~
He grabbed a shovel and was able to get some dirt turned over here and there. Then he looked for worms. Soon, he was just there, sitting next to me. Out of the silence, I heard, "Mom, I like being with you." It made me look up at him and ask, "Why?" With his green eyes linked to mine, he said, "Because... you're so Mom-like." Then he smiled and went back to his dirt.
If I ever needed to hear those words, it was in those moments. Yes, I've raised my babies but they're still my little ones... they'll grow into bigger children. Teens, adults. But they'll always be mine, and I'll always be "Mom."
There are still the occasional sleepless nights and times of worry... they will exist, as long as my children and I are together on this earth. But for all that, there's still so much laughter and many tender moments yet to be. We've come through much to end up where we are. Right now the present is an amazing place to be.
"Rejoice in the things that are
present; all else is beyond thee."
~ Montaigne ~
