there was so much to do
writing and deadlines to finish
dishes spilling over the counter
crumbs to sweep
I kept moving
from thing to thing to thing
I’d clean one area and just as I was done
another one needed my attention
it felt urgent
necessary
important
then little Samuel walked over
with his nuk dangling from his mouth
{that i’m trying so hard to break him of}
and his green soccer ball shirt
with the cute plaid shorts
he could see the broom in my hand
and rags in the other
but he didn’t care
he didn’t see the watermelon stains dotting the floor
or the dishes to be unloaded
or the papers to be tidied
he just wanted a hug
to be in my arms
rest
safe
as I gathered him in my arms
it became so clear to me
LET HIM END THE HUG
not me
with my rushing agendas
and pats
and quick I love you’s
so I stayed
and stayed
and stayed
and stayed
as the afternoon light shone through the window
dancing off of our embrace
it was Samuel and me
resting
with now not so important work around
so I let him end the hug
when he was ready
and I was blessed.
28 comments
A good reminder all the little tasks are not as important as love.
Heart-warming and beautifully shared.
I love this. It honestly brought tears to my eyes – as I have just wrapped my own post for today and it was along these same lines.
You’ve said it better and so well.
Have a blessed day.
~Bevy
My youngest is snuggling with me in my lap right now. He’s needed a lot of extra hugs this morning, and even though my house is a mess, I’m enjoying his little body, safe in my arms. He’s not going to be this little forever!
SO beautiful! I just took those moments with my youngest and I was blessed. And the laundry just sat there…..and it was fine!
Tissue please!!!
Absolutely the most beautiful parts of the busy days we have as mommas. 🙂
I’m off to hug my kiddos!
Love you.
Lynnette
awww. It’s so easy to get caught up in the doing of things that sometimes we forget the whole reason we are home with these kiddos in the first place. 🙂 thanks for the wonderful reminder!
😀 This just makes me smile. As a mother, I appreciate and completely relate to this. THANK YOU for sharing!
Have a blessed day!
Corine 😀
This is one of the toughest lessons for a mommy to learn in this day and age. Being an ‘older’ mom is very different from being a young mom. The first time around, I was young. VERY young. As time passed I learned many parenting lessons, mostly by trial and error. By the time I had babies #3 and #4, I was ready to put all those lessons to work. I, too, learned to let THEM end the hug. A blessing indeed. 🙂 And you know what? That ‘important’ stuff will be there later.
I TOTALLY miss those days… Just reading your post makes me a little envious that I don’t have a “warm, little body” to snuggle in close & need me in such a way. Enjoy each moment for you and for me.
Cool photos! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Bliss. <3
Beautifully written! One of the best pieces of advice someone gave me when I became a mom was to always let your children be the ones to end the hug. It’s sooo true!
I adore how God uses you to have us stop and realize that we need to appreciate the little moments and not get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle. Thank you for sharing your heart so openly. Your words have meaning 🙂
So beautiful Rachel! My oldest is 20 and my youngest is almost 8. Those days do not last. I still manage a hug with my 20 yo every now and then, but it’s hit or miss as she is often not home. Oh that I would learn to stop and see what is truly important. Life is fleeting.
Just absolutely precious! Good for you for embracing the moment!
What a beautifully precious embrace!!! I keep reminding myself that a day will come when hugs aren’t as needed (granted, I’m hoping mom’s hugs will always be needed) as much as they are now (like every ten minutes) so I better get in as many as possible!!! There will always be laundry and dishes, but not always hugs. ; )
…how many times do we miss these moments…sigh…
the Lord is so good in His continued grace, nudging us to not miss the truly important moments. Thank you for your sweet comments on my blog 🙂
God’s blessings over you and your sweet ones,
Bree
Thanks for reminding us to stop and enjoy the pause (or the disruption to our routine or well intentioned plans) and linger just a little longer for that welcome embrace.
Love those sweet moments when time freezes and you just stop doing what your busy with to embrace your little one.
you are a precious momma. thanks for sharing your heart. you’re such an inspiration to me for when i have littles of my own one day.
i can get consumed with keeping the perfect house and sometimes forget what’s important. thank you for the reminder. and i love the picture. it’s precious.
ok, my favorite line ever “I let him end the hug when he was ready”. Oh that made my heart skip a beat. I feel like I should put that on my wall or something. Thanks for the reminder!
So beautiful! “Let him end the hug”…are they “divine interruptions”…or perhaps the real work of our lives and all else is interruption?
Truly one of the greatest joys of being a mom! Hold them close!
this is soooooooooo sweet 🙂
adorable. aren’t those the best and most special moments?! i’m always telling myself, in the midst of chaos, to always see the joy. this is true beauty. thank you for sharing.
i’m your newest follower.
michelle
http://www.themommabird.com