One Last Time My Boy

Monday July 15th

There are some moments that, with a little luck, we can etch into our minds forever. I’m not talking about the moments that are so significant or frightening that they never leave you. I’m talking about the moments that are so simple, if you blink they’re gone. Moments like the last time I put my oldest son to sleep rocking him in my arms.

He was a little over two at the time and we were out with the neighbors, having dinner. The kids were playing together and as the night crept on, my son started getting tired. He came up to me and rested in my lap and with a little rocking and swinging, he fast asleep. I walked down the driveway with him fast asleep, carried him gently to his room, and placed him down in his bed. As the moonlight lit up his face, I knew in my heart that would be one of the last times he would fall asleep in my arms as a child.

I just sat there and held him and looked at his sweet face for a good five minutes, begging God to never forget what it felt like to be hold him so close.

I was thinking about this experience as I put my younger son to bed tonight. Usually, I try to work while I lay next to him, but tonight I decided to just told him. I wrapped my arms around him, stroked his soft baby skin, smelled his freshly washed hair, and kissed his chubby cheeks. I once again asked and begged God to not let me ever forget what I was feeling in that moment.

In life we’re not gonna remember every moment, but these are the moments that I do wish to never forget.