I Fell in Love on the Race
They say to not have favorites because of how the other kids will feel but with you it was different. From the moment I saw you, my heart leaped. Of course, it is easy to get attached to the little and cute ones, but I saw so much more in you. I wasn’t going to make you like me this week, but simply just love on you when you let me.
When I look into your eyes, I see laughter, I see happiness, and I see a little boy without a care in the world.
Every day I fell harder and harder as you warmed up to me. The thought of someone not wanting you, broke my heart.
It easy to not feel wanted in the broken world that we live in but luckily we have a God who loves us unconditionally and wants what’s best for us regardless of the circumstances.
The cards we are dealt in life do not determine our destination but only the path in which we get there.
When I look into your eyes, I see the world, I see you becoming anything you want to be, I see you making a life for yourself, being a good husband and an even better father.
They say “don’t get too attached”, but why? How you are not supposed to get attached? I had one week to show you love to make up for the last 6 years.
This week I saw the little bitty shy boy come to life.
I saw a blank face turn to smiles.
I saw laughter.
I saw your imagination flourish.
I saw you dance and play and climb on everything.
I saw you splash and play & swim all by yourself.
I saw you run around with the older boys, watching and listening to them.
I also, saw your stubbornness when you when you wouldn’t eat anything I served.
I saw your tears when you really didn’t want to take a shower.
As you sat in my lap, with your head on my shoulder, I saw you start to let me in and love me back.
I’ve taken care of plenty of kids in the past but there was something different about you.
I think it’s because God knew I needed a refill, a refill of life and love and laughter; everything you gave me this week.
He also reminded me that the amount of love I could have for you in one week is a drop in the ocean of the amount of love He has for us both. Out of the billions of people in the world he chose you, just like he chose the rest of us. The love I had for you this week didn’t change when you fought with your brother, when you were mad I wouldn’t let you walk home with me, when you did not want to work in your journal, refused to smile in the picture, eat any of the food I made or sit and watch the movie.
I loved you anyways.
And I was reminded that SAME LOVE comes from the Father.
The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. -Jeremiah 31:3
His love for us is NEVER conditional but always UNCONDITIONAL.
I hugged you a little tighter each day knowing it was one day closer to saying goodbye.
And then I watched you drive away.
I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but waving goodbye left tears welling in my eyes.
You are so loved my little monkey, we all are.
Thanks for reminding me what unconditional love looks like.
