do you ever wonder what your children are thinking when they look you in the eyes? or when they, all of a sudden, reach over and gently caress your face while you're cuddling together on the couch? do you ever wonder why they laugh in bed alone, as though they are communing with someone, yet you cannot see anyone? or why they give you an unexpected kiss as they walk by you? or why they choose to sit in reverence as those around them pray, even when sitting still is not something they normally do? do you ever wonder just how much they really know?
I know without a single doubt that my daughter is wiser than I could ever hope to be. she has so much intelligence. and she is teaching me so much daily. working with children everyday, I am blessed to witness a small sliver of their intelligence; of their goodness; of their natural ability to love.
they teach us with such tenderness. children show us how to live by their example. by their actions..just as the Savior of the world has done. they have the perfect ability to teach us without even saying a word. I wish, at times, that our newborns were able to speak at their young age. what would they say to us? what would they know and remember from before coming to this earth? we are taught in the Book of Mormon; 3rd Nephi 26:16 , "...babes did open their mouths and utter marvelous things; and the things which they did utter were forbidden that there should not any man write them."
one night, around 3am, when emma was just about 3 weeks old, I was already learning from Emma's example. I was awake with her, pacing the same path over and over again in the living room, trying to get her to go to sleep so that I could get a couple hours of much needed sleep. Jamison was asleep, and had been since 8pm since he had finals the next day. he had had hard classes since before emma was born, and he had very difficult tests coming up. the timing was terrible for us. because of his classes and exams, I was left to stay up with emma all night, every night, until she was about 6 weeks, and could sleep through the night. by the 3rd week of only 2 hours of sleep each night for me, I was at my wits end. I was sore from delivering emma, I was recovering very slowly from major surgery, and I had truly felt like I was all alone.
that night was a particularly difficult one for me. and I just couldn't go any longer, so as I was walking with emma, cradling her, with her as wide awake as possible, I began sobbing. I couldn't help myself, going that long without sleep or rest would wear anyone down. it was uncontrollable. it was unstoppable.
suddenly, as I was wondering how I could possibly make it through the night on my own, I heard the most beautiful sound. I looked down at emma and she was looking me straight in my eyes, almost into my soul it felt like, and she was laughing. she was giggling and smiling at me. her. mother. I will never forget that moment. that was exactly what I needed to help get me through that hard night, and the difficult nights ahead. it lifted my spirits and helped me put a smile on my own face. but more than anything, she taught me something that night. the work of a parent is hard. the thing that parents have to sacrifice for their babies are not easy, but. they. are. worth. it. we, especially mothers, have been given this sacred duty to raise our children. it may be difficult, but we are never alone. emma taught me this simple, but powerful truth that night. i felt alone, but i was quickly taught otherwise.
our children know more than we give them credit for. and if we just take the time to sit back and pay attention, we will be able to see just how much they are teaching us, or are trying to teach us every day.
do you ever wonder....what they are thinking when they look you in the eyes? i, for one, know i do. Leave Comment »
