Today I am joining Lisa Jo for Five Minute Friday
: Stay.
He looks up at me with that enduring cute grin of his. He lays all snugly under the covers with daddy listening close by as they say the final good-night prayers, and I walk in to give a final kiss to my handsome son before he sleeps.
“Mama,” he says, “can I tell you a secret?”
“Sure,” I say, as I bend my ear closer, and he wraps his arms tightly around my neck. “What would you like to tell me?”
“Can you lay with me?” he whispers softly in my ear, and I know this is what he will say before I ask, before I hear it. I play a game and say, “What did you say?” He repeats his words a little clearer.
“That’s not a secret – that’s a question,” I tease. I know he does not want daddy to hear his request.
“Please. Mama. Please.”
And sometimes my answer is yes, and sometimes I say, “Not tonight.”
He longs for me to stay – to keep the darkness and monsters at bay. Perhaps in his little kid way he is wiser than me.
I long for him to stay this little guy with such a cute smile and sweet tight hugs. He is cutest at night.
But he will not stay little and I will not stay in his room all night, but often, sometimes not often enough, I try to press the pause button, and lay down beside him, listen to him breathe, feel him go from wiggling to still. I capture the moment and keep it in my memory box of words, and hope that soon enough he will come to better understand the nature of the One who always Stays, and stills, and keeps the monsters away.
“For I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Oh, this is precious! This is the reminder I need to hear when I’m wishing these younger years would hurry up. Must savor those sweet moments.
I’m just swimming in this goodness tonight, friend.
Yes, let’s stay while we can and show them who will always stay when we can’t…I’m with you.
Big hugs to you and sorry I missed chatting with you tonight!
Sweet post.
Deliciously precious. I love when my baby (he’s 3) falls asleep on me or cuddles close. I just know it will go by so fast. My oldest is 12 and I swear I just blinked and it went by so quickly. I can’t always stay but when I do, I never regret it.
i love little one snuggles – i wouldn’t trade all those nights of snuggles and cuddles for anything in the world! this is such a sweet post.
Wonderfully precious. Well done perspective. I can see the scene unfolding from love and routines and wishes. Beautiful. Simply.
So nice to “meet” you last night at #fmfparty! Welcome is only the beginning. You’re one of us. Not because you came to the party (that’s icing on the cake!) but because you’re you. You write. You adore language and His Name and all things learning and growth. So happy you’re here. Sharing with us.
I’m pausing, remembering NOT to wish the time away. My little one, now 9, still snuggles (shh… don’t tell anyone:)) I’ll miss these days and will miss them more if I don’t pause and embrace them.
Beautifully written word…
I teared up reading this as my little one is just three months old, too young to ask me to “stay” but I know she sleeps best when I am near. So beautiful. We want them to stay little. They want us to stay with them all the time. And none of us can “stay” because God knows best.
oh, this was so so precious…your time with your son, and the reminder of the Heavenly Father faithful presence with us…praying His peace and joy for you and yours this weekend…hugs 🙂
The sweet snugly years go by so fast.
You are wise to pause and savor when you can.
I only have girls, but I can say while they do not always want Mama to crawl in, they always want to know that they are important enough for your time.
Sweet post.
Cheers,
Leah
Thank you for this precious reminder of days gone by. You are wise to cherish them. Each one of them.
You are wise to stay. To teach.
Jamie, I love this so much…especially the way you ended with the “memory box of words” and a hope that “he will come to better understand the nature of the One who always Stays…” Just beautiful and perfect.
Hi Jamie
I am a bit late visiting from FMF. Your words bring a tear to my heart. This is my first empty nest year and how my heart longs for those little bodies cuddling up against me when I used to read them stories at night before lights out! Yes, you are right where you have said that they don’t always stay. Thanks!
Blessings