Grace

Have you ever had one of those moments when you look at your child and your become completely overwhelmed by emotion? I had one of those moments last night. It was late, 10:30 or somewhere around there, and Hayley and I were sitting on the couch. She had come into the living room with a "tummy ache". As it turns out, she was just fishing for a late night snack. As she sat next to me eating her frosted cherry pop tarts (my personal favorite)and watching "My First Place" on HGTV she began to talk. She talked about the houses as though she were an expert in real estate and what she thought the buyers should and should not buy. Together we discussed the buyers situation and it hit me that I was talking to her as though she were a friend. It is those moments when she and I are alone that we have some of our best, heartfelt conversations. It is those moments that in my heart I pray to God that 10, 20, 30 years from now she and I can still have that connection and enjoy each others company and conversation. "Hayley," I said, "Do you know how much I love you?" She nodded. "How much?" I asked. "To the moon and the stars," she answered. I shook my head. "Even more." When she had finished her pop tarts I told her she had to go to sleep. Her countenance fell. "Come on," I said as I turned the TV off, "I'll lay with you tonight." She smiled. As we snuggled in her bed I closed my eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep, as did she. Those moments are priceless and I wouldn't trade them for anything else in this world. I woke up around 1:30 and made my way to my own bed.
I've said all this to say that I am so thankful God doesn't give us what we deserve. I am so thankful that he so graciously blessed me with the family I have and the wonderful gift of motherhood. I don't think there is another gift so precious. (Aside from salvation & the Holy Spirit, of course.)
This morning as I was getting ready for work I began to sing this song:
"Where would I be? You only know. I'm glad You see through eyes of love. A hopeless case, an empty place if not for grace. And I thank You for the things I cannot see. You've been a shelter in the storms of life, a shield surrounding me. And I thank You for the mercy You provide. I know You could have walked away but You stayed a thousand times. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. I once was lost, but now I'm found. A hopeless case, an empty place if not for grace."