Small

You were so small for so long. There in the dark, in the water, I could feel you turn and when you stretched I stretched. There were feet in my ribs and elbows pushing against the skin that covered you, held you in, so small. Such a confinement would not be tolerated for too long. When you were still small, but too big for the space that I had for you, that miracle journey began, and it was a narrow and hard path. You and I made a way though. We were designed to do that together. 

Bones and skin strained, muscles and sweat and crying out, and I am sure I was loud, and crying out and you were in the light. Little arms and legs that had known nothing but limits flailed, slippery body caught secure and wrapped up, still so small. 

Small with big blue eyes, you were always looking and taking it in. You seemed like you knew just what you were doing, and I was the one who had so much to learn. So you were teaching me all the time, and I was trying to teach you too. 

You're not as small now.

Sometimes I think of the small you, that tiny you who looked at me with big blue eyes that said so much. I think of how you are getting bigger all the time but you're not big enough yet to leave. One day, again, you'll be too big for this space, and you'll head down a narrow and hard path. What I hope you know is that you will never be alone on the journey. 

We're still learning, you and I. I am teaching you, but you are still teaching me too. Together we'll keep learning. There'll be more straining, we'll have to push through some difficult times, and we may cry out for help. But guess what? We will end up in the light, held tight, secure.

Comments

[Melanie]

such beautiful words...loved reflecting on them on Mother's Day