Treasured Moments

Baby Dennon less than an hour old

When my son Dennon was born, he was 5 weeks early. He stayed in the NICU for 3 weeks due to an immature sucking reflex. Thank the Lord he had no trouble breathing but when we would fed him with a bottle, he’d get very tired and fall asleep. On Thanksgiving Day, the sucking reflex clicked, he was eating well and we said goodbye to the nursing staff and introduced him to our home for the first time. Though finally being able to cradle my baby boy at home, when feeding time came around, I was incredibly anxious. Since feeding had been an issue for him, I would stress and most certainly end up in tears. After voicing my fears to my mom, she told me “Rachel, sing to him. It will cause you to relax”. She was right, as I sang to him I was able to relax and enjoy the closeness of the moment.

Monkey Boy and his mohawk

Now 14 months later, that little monkey boy never sits still. Except for when I sing; right before bed I sing worship songs to him. As I rock him back and forth his heart slows, he snuggles in close and even hums along once in awhile. The beauty that shines from my soul in those moments, takes my breath away. The world has billboard and magazine ads that tell us what beautiful looks like, but why doesn’t anyone ever talk about what it feels like? I know how it feels; it feels like I’m living the call of my life. It’s in these moments that I realize the honor I’ve been given to raise this little boy into a man. In those moments with him I may not be glamorous or have the cutest pajamas but I’m overflowing with beauty. There in that dark room, singing God’s praise, my soul is well.  

Last night as I was singing to him, I remembered my mom and all the comfort she gave to me when she would sing the “Rachel” song, which I now sing to D right before I lay him in his crib.

“Rachel, pretty little Rachel,

Rachel, pretty little Rachel,

pretty little Rachel Girl”

I never realized the effect of those moments with her. This song that once brought so much love to me is now blessing my own son. I can only hope that it will travel to my grand children and great- grandchildren. What is more beautiful than that? A love started from one mother’s heart is being passed on from generation to generation.

I don’t want my story to only be filled with gorgeous glittery shoes and to-die-for MAC makeup. I want it to run deep.  I want it to be a beautiful story full of glamorous, treasured moments that take your breath away. What moments are you taking for granted? What treasured little things haven’t you realized make you and your story beautiful? I challenge you to begin to recognize and carve out those moments in your life, because a story full of love is very, very, pretty.