At six every single morning my two-year-old wakes up, calls for me and expects a transfer to my bed stopping only to pick up a bottle of milk warmed to his exacting standards along the way.
Then we pretzel. And I dread the moment my alarm will go off.
It’s tender beneath the covers in the predawn stillness of the house. He wraps chubby arms around my neck and breathes nose to nose, whispers, “Hi mama.”
“Hi, Micah.”
“Wuv you, Mama.”
“I love you, Micah.”
Sometimes he grants me an inch or two of personal space. Sometimes my back hurts and I try to stealthily turn over and into a different position. It’s a favor rarely granted. But this morning, from behind my turned shoulder I heard him, concede, “Here go, mama.”
And a young arm tugged and strained with the heavy comforter to pull a portion of it over me and make sure I was snugly tucked in.
“Thank-you, honey.”
“Wel-come, mama,” my little maharajah murmured and I could hear the smile coming thick through his words.
The bed, the blankets, the mattress are all mine. The room, the house, the roof over it all provided because of his father and me. Indeed, his very existence can be traced from his bellybutton to my heart. He offers back what already belongs to me.
The metaphor is not lost on me.
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1.
And still, I am as certain that I feel His joy when I offer bits back as I am that I feel a warm back pressed up against mine under a shared duvet at 6am each morning.
This made me smile this morning! :)
Precious! I love those kinda moments.
I’ve eagerly awaited a new post…your learning heart is such an encouragement.
Precious. :)
Lisa-Jo, I love, love, love this post! Thank you for the sweet look into your sweet, sweet family. And for the great big smile that it put on my face. I totally needed it. :)
Gosh – you are so welcome! And your enthusiasm just made my day!
Your post is a bright spot in my busy day today! Thank you for letting us take a peek into this sweet time with Micah!
i absolutely love this post! it brings back so many memories of my son when he was 2-3 climbing into my bed in the mornings, rubbing my back and snuggling until we had to get up and ready for the day. Now that he’s in high school, the hugs are few and far between but i can still see and still feel the 2-3 year-old when i do actually get one! i know you know this but – hold on as long as you can! God gives us these precious souls to tend to for such a short time.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder – because often a tired mama longs for a little personal space. It’s great to remember that these days are fleeting and that baby boys grow up (yikes – what will I DO when that happens??!)
like i said, i can still see and still feel the 2-3 year old, but i certainly can’t smell him! be prepared…
As I tweeted this morning, this post made me cry. Lisa-Jo, you have reminded me again of this most precious truth … this great big Creator God who made all of everything looks down at me and says I am precious, beautiful, treasured … He was willing to ransom His very best for a relationship with me. And His desire is for me to know Him as a protector, a provider, and a friend. He is God – Almighty, Powerful, Holy – and He is also MY God – Merciful, Loving, Compassionate.
I couldn’t have said it any better. Yes, I love that as big as he is, he treasures intimate one-on-one time with us. And I know that to be true because he gives us the living, breathing parable of parenthood.
This was so sweet :) I can’t wait to be a mama one day. Until then, I will live vicariously through you
Ha! You’re welcome to come along for the ride with us! It’s the most beautiful, exhausting, exhilarating, humbling, entertaining one I’ve ever experienced!
What a tender moment you captured and held in your heart for all to see and shine upon.
God is present in our lives down to every detail. Heart warming post. <3 it! :-)
Oh, beautiful, as usual! Some of the best snuggles with my youngest are when he just wakes up. I love it that I am the first one he looks for and wants to cuddle. As his toes are already poking through his footie jammies, I know it won’t be long before he is a sbig as his 12 year old brother. Your posts are like devotionals for me, reminding me of how awesome and loving our Father is! And by the way, if we could go out, I would NOT tease you for ordering tea – I might even have a chai just for kicks!!
Oh it is sooo on! I am HOLDING YOU TO A TEA DATE!!
I love this analogy!
gosh this makes me want to meet you and your boys. I love this post and love the analogy…and for the record I just took a deep-refreshing breath after I read this.
big smile :)
I promise that you make my biological clock tick at least once a week. That is snugglylicious!
Ooo, now there’s a compliment!
I’ve lived this exact scene at my house. And yet, until now, the metaphor WAS lost on me. I owe you big time for pointing it out! Beautifully done, as always!
Such a sweet moment! It’s simplicity and tenderness melts me :)
Melt my heart! What a sweetie! I have a little guy who loves to come snuggle in the wee hours of the morning. It’s such a precious time for the things they whisper:)
I melted reading this and the other about pretzel :)
Thank you! It does make my biological clock ticks too!
I tell you what, there’s nothing like an early morning pretzel!
This made me smile! I have an 8 year old who still likes to climb into bed with me as soon as her alarm goes off for school! I do so love those sweet snuggles. Nothing else like it in the whole wide world.
My 4-yr-old still loves to snuggle too. That’s so encouraging to know they don’t grow out of it for a while yet – I still have a few years to go!
love the imagery of your morning snuggle! so so sweet.