Thursday, May 15, 2008

Another Blast from the Past

You’re Beautiful (written 8 years ago in 2000)

Last night, Mark and I got in late. We had been in Port Charlotte teaching English and reading classes to the Hispanic players on the Texas Rangers’ farm team. After completing the classes, we grabbed a dinner and went to the store. I checked on the boys when we walked in the house and then went to my room to chill out for a few minutes. I washed my face and put on my robe.

My almost eight-year-old son was in the breakfast room eating my left-over steak from the restaurant. He should have been in bed but he wasn’t.

“Paul, is that good?” I inquired as I was passing through the room. He stopped eating and looked up at me. I was going to tell him to go brush his teeth and get in bed when he held out his arms for a hug. Of course, I had to hug him. It’s one of those perks you get when you are a mom.

He wrapped those skinny little boy arms about my neck and then surprised me with a kiss. I smiled down at my son. I was thinking how much I loved being a mother. As I was about to walk out of the room, my son looked at me and said, “Mom, you’re beautiful.”

His statement took me by shock. Here I was wearing a fuzzy yellow robe, house shoes, and NO makeup! I managed to thank him because I realized he meant it. There was no hidden agenda. To my little boy, I was beautiful. Then he added, “Mom, would you hold me for a minute? You are so soft and snuggly in that robe. I would like to just sit in your lap.”

Nothing thrills my heart more than when one of my children just wants to be near me – just to sit in my lap. I love it when all they want is me. Yes, those are the times I would give them the world.

As I was holding my precious son last night, God spoke to me. After a busy, long day I was finally still and not asleep. It was a perfect opportunity for my Father to speak. Very quietly, very gently, God stepped into my living room. My Father looked down and He smiled at me and asked, “Debbie, when’s the last time you just climbed up in my lap? When’s the last time you told me that I was wonderful and you didn’t want a thing? Child, sometimes I want my perks for being your Father. Sometimes, I want your arms around my neck.”

Often, the cares of this life press in on us so tightly we forget that we have a Father who loves us. We get so consumed with doing and going, we ignore the One that we are serving. We neglect our relationship with our God and then we wonder where our passion has gone. We long for our joy and peace to return but we’re too tired and busy to stop and figure out what’s wrong. We tell everyone that we love the Father but we forget to tell the Father. I am so glad that my Father still speaks to me. He speaks words of love. He loves me because I’m His kid.

The ordinary things in our lives, the people that we take for granted are usually our burning bush! My living room chair was the bush. My son was the flame. Suddenly, I was on Holy Ground. God was in the room reminding me that I needed Him.

Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me through my child. I really need to spend some more time with you. I need to cuddle up and just let You hold me. Thanks for reminding me that this daughter can still sit in her Father’s Lap.

Oh, and Dad, You’re beautiful.


Paul and Me

4 comments:

Karren said...

Precious. I love moments like those.

Leah-Joy said...

Paul was right! You are beautiful!
Someone just here lately told Mama that and she didn't believe them!

r said...

Awwww, such precious memories!

Deborah said...

"We long for our joy and peace to return, but we're too tired and busy to figure out what went wrong..."
I think that's how it went. Wow.
This was a awesome entry. For me, it was a reminder, because you shared this with me via the phone years ago. Thank you for posting it.

And Paul is right ~