Gratitude Journey Day 17
Thankful for my little people!
When Blake was little he asked me once after his legs got tired if I would carry him. I recall the day as though it just happened. We had been walking downtown and we were just about to JC Penney. He told me he was getting tired. He was four. A bit too big for a stroller at that point with legs too little to trek all the places we were going. I asked him if he wanted me to carry him and he said yes. As we walked along he asked me, "Mom how big do I have to be before you won't carry me anymore?" I replied "I'll carry you until you are too big for me to carry." We agreed that was a good plan.
Most often, Blake would walk. He was independent and he liked to roam on his own. However, there were times when he would ask me to pick him up, carry him. I almost always said YES. I can recall friends commenting "he's too big to carry" and thinking to myself, yeah he probably is, but one day he'll really be too big. I savored that time in my arms. I didn't mind picking him up, when he got a bit "too big" I would put him on my back. We made it work until he was probably 8. At that point he was too big and his "macho" had set in. It wasn't cool for mom to carry him any more. THANKFULLY he never outgrew (even today!) holding my hand or wrapping his arm around me, leaning into me in a crowd or sitting close just because we can.
Charlie Mae knew of the story "until you are too big" and at 9 years old and rather on the small side, she still asks "uppie" which is UP. Yesterday was one of those days when she wanted held, cuddled and close. As I picked her up and carried her around for a bit, before landing on the couch to cuddle I must admit there was a part of me that was so thankful for the big cuddle bundle of kid wanting to be embraced and wrapped up in her mom.
I tend to let myself get "too busy", "to have too much housework", "too tired", too... whatever. It was good for me to pick her up and be reminded it is nice to STOP and SLOW DOWN. Life goes by quickly, before I blink she'll be "too big" and I won't be able to lift and love her like I can today. Much like her brother, she is loving of her mother, she likes to hold hands, give you hugs and just touch you to let you know she is there & she adores you. It is mutual.
How awesome for God to have this all figured out, by design. To bring our children into the world as tiny little beings, growing and coming to life inside of our bodies. To carry our children from the very start of their existence. They come out of us & arrive in such a sweet little bundle which fits so perfectly wonderfully into our arms. As they grown, our bodies grow with them, learning how to lift and love them to show them security and protection and caring.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
Until my sweet girl is "too big" I intend to carry her when asked. Oh I don't always carry her and she wouldn't dare ask in a public venue like Safeway... what if someone saw us =O But she does still ask within the comforts of our home, and for that I'm thankful and will indulge and enjoy it. I hope my children never feel "too big" to be close to me. My desire is that they always appreciate the touching, the hugs, the hand holding, the rub your back because I'm so happy you are near, the grab you and hold you just because we can.
Today I'm thankful for having a healthy body which allows me to pick up and hold my baby girl and equally as thankful for her desire for me to do so. Thank you Jesus for this silly gift that I so love!
Thankful for my little people!
When Blake was little he asked me once after his legs got tired if I would carry him. I recall the day as though it just happened. We had been walking downtown and we were just about to JC Penney. He told me he was getting tired. He was four. A bit too big for a stroller at that point with legs too little to trek all the places we were going. I asked him if he wanted me to carry him and he said yes. As we walked along he asked me, "Mom how big do I have to be before you won't carry me anymore?" I replied "I'll carry you until you are too big for me to carry." We agreed that was a good plan.
Most often, Blake would walk. He was independent and he liked to roam on his own. However, there were times when he would ask me to pick him up, carry him. I almost always said YES. I can recall friends commenting "he's too big to carry" and thinking to myself, yeah he probably is, but one day he'll really be too big. I savored that time in my arms. I didn't mind picking him up, when he got a bit "too big" I would put him on my back. We made it work until he was probably 8. At that point he was too big and his "macho" had set in. It wasn't cool for mom to carry him any more. THANKFULLY he never outgrew (even today!) holding my hand or wrapping his arm around me, leaning into me in a crowd or sitting close just because we can.
Charlie Mae knew of the story "until you are too big" and at 9 years old and rather on the small side, she still asks "uppie" which is UP. Yesterday was one of those days when she wanted held, cuddled and close. As I picked her up and carried her around for a bit, before landing on the couch to cuddle I must admit there was a part of me that was so thankful for the big cuddle bundle of kid wanting to be embraced and wrapped up in her mom.
I tend to let myself get "too busy", "to have too much housework", "too tired", too... whatever. It was good for me to pick her up and be reminded it is nice to STOP and SLOW DOWN. Life goes by quickly, before I blink she'll be "too big" and I won't be able to lift and love her like I can today. Much like her brother, she is loving of her mother, she likes to hold hands, give you hugs and just touch you to let you know she is there & she adores you. It is mutual.
How awesome for God to have this all figured out, by design. To bring our children into the world as tiny little beings, growing and coming to life inside of our bodies. To carry our children from the very start of their existence. They come out of us & arrive in such a sweet little bundle which fits so perfectly wonderfully into our arms. As they grown, our bodies grow with them, learning how to lift and love them to show them security and protection and caring.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
Until my sweet girl is "too big" I intend to carry her when asked. Oh I don't always carry her and she wouldn't dare ask in a public venue like Safeway... what if someone saw us =O But she does still ask within the comforts of our home, and for that I'm thankful and will indulge and enjoy it. I hope my children never feel "too big" to be close to me. My desire is that they always appreciate the touching, the hugs, the hand holding, the rub your back because I'm so happy you are near, the grab you and hold you just because we can.
Today I'm thankful for having a healthy body which allows me to pick up and hold my baby girl and equally as thankful for her desire for me to do so. Thank you Jesus for this silly gift that I so love!
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