Caregiver Day

"I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.” Isaiah 66:13

The last several hours have been some of the more difficult hours of being a Mommy. Andy and I were woken in the middle of the night by our daughter. I imagine there is very little worse than comforting a child as their little tummy rebels for several hours. After she settled down a little, we made up a little bed for her in our room, right next to the bathroom, and she slept fitfully for a while. Listening to that little girl whimper in her sleep just led me to a long night of prayer. I wanted to be able to hear her if she needed me in the night, so I slept poorly, waking to pray a bit and check on her here and there. And as I'm watching her right now, lying on the couch, watching Mary Poppins and missing her share day at school, I am given a reminder.

I've been busy this past week. Very busy. I had so much to do as far as cooking and baking to make sure I had the goodies I wanted to share as Christmas gifts. I had shopping to do, wrapping to do, and lots of general running around to do. And even though I have enjoyed being busy, it's too busy. I've been too busy to pay much attention to my children. Oh we've spent time together, but not focused time. It was always squeezed in between batches of cookies or trips out the door. Not so today. Today I am thankful for the reminder that I need to spend time this Christmas season with my kids. They don't care about another batch of cookies, they just want to play a game with me and be silly.

Thank you God for the reminder that my children are precious to me, and just as they are precious to me, they are even more precious to you. May you wrap your arms around my little girl and comfort her, and may your arms also protect my son from sharing in her misery. May we continue into Christmas full of joy and with a constant reminder of the reason for all our joy this time of year.