Some things are overrated in this life: Fame, money, power. Of course for those of us that don’t have it, that’s easy to say. Tonight I saw a show that touched me deeply with one frame at the end. One frame and this big 275 pound manly man was reduced to a blubbering mass in no time. That’s not hard to do of course, especially in my old age but it happened none the less.
So I sat and watched as this little girl, taken from her mother was reunited with her. She ran to her mother and jumped in her arms, legs around her waist and arms around her neck. Over the mothers shoulder you could see her smile the smile of a contented and safe feeling child. One that had everything back in the right places after the pieces were mixed up and frightened her. But now she was all right. Now she was back in the safe loving arms that had always made her feel the safest and warmest she had ever felt. The only arms that can give the comfort, love and solace a child needs.
That’s it? That’s all that made you whine like a baby? Close. But what did it was thinking about how right and perfect that feels. To have a child impart the energy they feel when they are feeling perfect: when they feel the way they do after being scooped up by their mother or father. That’s what did it. That feeling that courses through me when I have lifted my child off the ground and feel those arms reach for safety and comfort that can only be given by a parent.
I have experienced this with every child of mine. The one on one feeling of being the protector and safe haven for them when they feel their most vulnerable. They latch onto you and surrender their safety to the trust they have in you.
Just seeing that girl grab onto her mother reminded me of that feeling and made me so thankful that of all things there are in the world, I would never want to give up that privilege of having my little girl grab me around the neck and say “Daddy, boo-boo chicken.” I will gladly stay poor the rest of my life and only ask for the means to keep my family satisfied before I would ever release the privilege of that feeling.
So some things are overrated and I don’t need them. They would make life nice and even nicer for those I love. So I know some people value those things more: But then my sadness returns when I think of those that have not felt that warmth and contentment. The ones that may think it is overrated and resort to other means of fulfillment. If they only knew what they were missing.
I’ll take my hugs and kisses and I will return every ounce of love I receive sevenfold and ensure my child receives everything she deserves and more. Everything I didn’t get and everything I know will make her love her child the same way one day. Because she will look back and KNOW how it feels to have that love supporting you.
It may not read so blubbering, but it meant a lot to me to understand the true sentiment of that hug and all the emotions and communication that was transmitted in the simple free act of a hug and squeeze.
No, I TOTALLY get you...like what I was trying to convey the other night about my friends that actively abstain from having children.
ReplyDeleteI respect their thinking, but I wonder, deep, deep down...if they are simply cowards. Not wanting to give of themselves, not wanting to have something out in the world to worry and fuss over. It's a HUGE emotional undertaking, having kids.
And you've done it 4 times!
Love to you. Always.