Sunday, February 14, 2010

I Am Loved


There are some kinds of love that just can not be recognized adequately with the frill of a lacy doily valentine or a box of chocolates. This love is not the kind represented by romantic feelings coaxed to the surface with a meal eaten by candlelight, or a decadent dessert. Not even cupid can conger this kind of love. It is the love God created in the heart's of mother and child, the unconditional kind, that burns internal, deep in one’s soul. On this Valentines’ Day it is this kind of powerful love that I celebrate by

sharing the many ways I feel it’s presence.


1. Those slobbery little kid kisses accompanied by the enthusiastic

wiggle of her head when she plants one on me as if to ensure a good

solid contact between our lips.

2. When she says, “mommy, I have a secret” knowing that when I put my ear to her rosebud mouth, the words uttered, in her best attempt of the quietness of a whisper, are always the same, “I wuv you!”


3. Experiencing the best part of my day that comes at 7:30pm when three sets of arms embrace in a huge family bear hug before tuck in, with a squeeze so tight that we all make those funny guttural and gasping sounds that come when one can’t possibly hold the air in their bursting lungs any longer. Followed by the stall, "Mommy, can we talk about our days?"


4. When, for the thousandth time, she unsuccessfully tries to to hold my hand by inner twining my extra long fingers with her short little ones, and realizing through the hint of another measured growth spurt, that one day this will be possible.


5. Sharing the exuberant joy she feels when she can finally reach the pedals on her t

rike, open the refrigerator by herself, put on her own mittens or write her own name. To her, the ability to accomplish such tasks with me as her witness is magic.


6. To hear the appreciation in her polite and tiny voice when she thanks me for preparing her dinner, or washing her clothes, or handing her a glass of juice. I will never tire of hearing those over enthusiastic phrases, “Oh, tank you, mommy” or “Dat was soooo nice of you.”


7. The repetition of the conversation, “Mommy, are we best friends?” I say, “Yes, and....” and before I can finish, she blurts “...I can tell you anything!” Yep, that’s right, sugar...any time and any where.

8. The delight she gets out of pointing out the three specific polka-dots God gave her, two on one of her hands and one on her ear, followed by poking me all over with her two index fingers, in a tickling fashion, trying to pin point all of mine.


9. When for no apparent reason she stops what she is doing, lifts her arms up to me and asks, “Mommy, can you hold me, please?”, knowing that it is the security we feel in each others' arms that she seeks.


10. Lastly, feeling that thick liquid sense of awe that fills me up from my toes to the brim of my eyelids, every time I feel the warmth of the bare skin of her back under my own warm hand. It overwhelms me every time, as I try to comprehend how one person could ever be worthy of this wonderful gift of this child’s love.

7 comments:

jasonliberty said...

Wow! That's all I can say! I am actually crying as I read this post! What A precious precious gift that I think is so taken advantage of and sometimes forgotten! Thank you for the reminder of exactly how precious those moments are. Now if you will excuse me I'm going to track down my two teenagers and make them give me a hug ;-)
Liberty

Fenwick 5 said...

Special moments,special children,don't you just love it?:) Such a princess and how great is the mother daughter love. Makes me miss my mom even more!! Gidget

Anonymous said...

Julie:
I always wait with anticipation for your new posts and am never disappointed.They are always so sweet and filled with the love you all have for each other.You express so well the feelings I have for my own kids.Are you sure you aren't an author in disguise?(o: There is nothing like those sweet special moments between a parent and their child.
Leveta

The Pfeiffer Family said...

Julie, this is a beautiful post! Your words always paint such a vivid picture for your reader. Your posts are always a joy to read! I think your words captured the love between a mother and their child lovingly and wonderfully. I am so happy that God blessed you with your beautiful princess and happy that your princess has been blessed with a loving, fun, caring and compassionate mommy!

April :-)

Peter and Nancy said...

I am so happy that you and Patrick and Devi were led to one another. What a beautiful picture of love you've painted, and a lovely reminder to appreciate every moment together.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Nancy

Emily said...

Oh Julie, your writing makes me want to be a mom! Thank you for describing, so eloquently and lovingly, how it feels to love your child. Your posts are always inspiring and full of life. I'm so glad you are enjoying every moment of parenting! Emily

Anonymous said...

In a fit of madness I signed up to run the Seattle Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon. My sis-in-law Karen, wanted me to tell her about the runner's high if I ever got it...I told her it was a myth, somewhere akin to "you'll never know love unless you have children"
THEN I read your damn post! I forwarded it to Karen and she (w/ 3 kids) thought you should be Mother of the year, and how glad she is that you guys got to be parents. You and Pat may have the edge on actually knowing love. The jury is still out on the runner's high...love you, Monica