Today is Abby’s 2nd birthday! Her birthday provides a time for me to pause and reflect on how grateful I am for her presence in my life and how thankful am for all she teaches me.
I was a bit nervous at first of having a daughter. I was afraid I would not know how to raise her, since my only other parenting experiences were shared with Brady. Two years later, though, I am over-joyed at the gift of sharing life with a little woman.
Daily, Abby brings our family the gift of love, which she expresses with hundreds of hugs and snuggles. She is quiet and observant, and then she suddenly will surprise you with what she can say and do. It is not just a single word that will come out, but an entire sentence such as “I want more strawberries, Mom” or “Brady, I want to do it to.”.
Abby’s greatest lesson to me is slowing down and being mindful of others around me. I call her my “little red shadow” because she follows me everywhere. While some days, this drives me crazy; most days, I love it. She wants to learn and be part of whatever I am doing– putting on make-up, making the bed, cooking, playing, reading, working in the yard, unloading groceries. Her presence reminds me to take the time to slow down and appreciate the sacredness of the little shared moment between the two of us. Often, she will climb up and plop herself in my lap for a hug and snuggle smack in the middle of what I am doing– a slow, sacred pause, in the middle of the day.
I am daily learning to embrace all of who she is and all of the gifts she brings to the world –because she has quite a lot to offer people who come into her presence!
So to my , “sweet girl”, “Aberoo”, “Abs”, “big blue” (because of her eyes) and to my “little red” (because of her hair), Happy Birthday! I am forever thankful for you!
How has a child in your life taught you about the Sacredness of life?
Becky Eldredge
Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.
Happy Birthday!
To answer your question: I spent 8 weeks in bed with our oldest and then he almost died at birth. In fact, several years later my husband told me the nurse told him our baby wasn’t going to make it. Now he is 18 and leaving for college in the Fall. Honestly? There are no words at this point to describe the word, sacred.
You’ve probably been told this already, but enjoy every moment because one day you look back and say, “what happened to time?”
Kathleen, that would truly be a sacred moment…one you will always remember.
I have been told that many times, but a reminder of it never hurts! It goes by so quickly!