Little Children

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

Lilies of the Field

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:25-30

Love Notes

A mama robin decided to build her nest in the weeping mulberry tree right outside our front door this summer. The girls were delighted to watch her sitting in her nest and waited anxiously for the day the eggs would hatch. And hatch they did (but oh how quickly the babies grew and flew away)! I am so thankful for the little "love notes" like this that God leaves for us to find. Not only were the nest and eggs beautiful, but how sweet that there were three little birds in her nest as well as mine.

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Romans 1:20

Holding

I was able to hold each of my daughters in my arms today and pause to enjoy that precious sensation. I wonder how much longer I will be able to say that? The "big girls" and I went to see Ramona and Beezus this afternoon. During the course of the movie, Sophie made her way out of her seat and into my lap. There she sat for the next hour, wrapped warm and safe in my embrace. Later in the evening, Chloe came into the kitchen asking for popcorn and a hug... This is a rare request (the hug, not the popcorn). So, I took the opportunity not only to hug her but to lift her into my arms as well. She wrapped her arms and legs around me and laid her head on my shoulder. I asked her, "When did you get so big?! How did you grow so fast?!" (I'm sure that it was not the first time I've asked her those questions and probably not the last.) I held her there and hugged her close. Finally, I sat in the nursery reading bedtime stories to Charlotte and rocking her to sleep tonight. I love to watch her drift off, snuggled close. It's one of my favorite times in the whole day. As we rocked, I reflected once again (maybe for the millionth time) on how brief our time will be with our children. I mean, I know we have a lifetime to spend with them, but the years when they will be living here at home with us are really quite brief. In fact, the entire parenting process is designed to work toward separation. From the moment of conception, the bodies of mother and child begin working for the end goal of birth which separates the two for the first time. Then for the next 18+ years, parents must work to prepare their children to live separate from their home. These musings could leave me more than a little blue... Or, they could cause me to delight in every minute that I have with these wonderful gifts from God. I choose the latter (at least for today). I wish I could slow down these days rushing by, but since I cannot, I will keep holding my children and holding on to every hug and cuddle and quiet moment we are given together.