Children...A Gift

Children are a cherished gift.  Yesterday afternoon, the amber alert dinged on my phone that a two-year old girl named Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette had been abducted from her home.  As soon as I read the news, my heart dropped.  After a prayer lifted up for Hailey and her family, my day went on.  I headed down south with the Junior High boys for our first Cross Country meet.  Just as an aside, it was cold and rainy but the boys ran well for their first race of the year and I was so proud of their heart and positive attitude.  I began the long drive home, Terry was out as Jaret had basketball tryouts and I wasn't home in time for him to leave Kirra so she went along.  The house was quiet and I sat down to the news.  I was saddened to hear the fate of Hailey's dad and that RCMP were investigating it as a homicide.  This news story had gotten worse.  My heart was hurting for this broken family.

After a devotion and coming across a poem, I felt hopeful and was just looking forward to my kids being home sooner rather than later.  The poem was one that I may have posted before but every time I read it, it is a good reminder so I will share it again.

As soon as the kids got home, I dropped what I was doing.  Well, not literally as I was doing dishes. But I just slowed down so that I could cherish the little bit of bedtime tucks.  I then had some work to do.  But when it was time for bed, I tucked the kids again as I do every night and went to bed myself. However, I couldn't sleep so I got up and took some time in Jaret and Kirra's room.  You understand it...that moment when you are just so overwhelmed by love and gratitude for the gift of your children. I couldn't sleep until I kissed and cuddled them.  And then I just stood there - praising God and thanking him for the blessing of being a Mom and praying protection over them.  I was able to sleep a little better after that.

Waking this morning to a new day was a blessing.  A day full of hope.  However, the day ended with the devastating news that this precious little girl's life had been taken.  A young life so full of promise, ended.  It is difficult to hear stories like this one and my heart goes out to the family during this most difficult time in their journey.  

And as the tears come, I am grateful that I can walk upstairs and tuck my kids again before going to sleep.  Thankful once again for the blessing of being a mom and praying for God's protection over my children.  I pray that I will never take this gift for granted and that in the stage of life we are in and how busy life gets, that I will slow down and spend time with my children.  That I will sit and snuggle as I let the dirty dishes sit (difficult for this OCD Momma).  Praying that I will remember to cherish these moments when they are still young and slow down to have some fun and bake a cake.  I pray that each day I will sit and listen to their day, that I will spend the cherished moments for their childhood will not stay.  Join me, go hug your children, hold them tight, and thank God for the cherished moments.

"Each day of our lives me make deposits in the memory banks of our children." 

~Charles Swindoll