I'm getting deep, here, people

I was holding my baby tonight. giving him his bottle and staring at his general awesomeness.

**Not too brag, but this kid is pretty awesome**

I was reveling in his big blue eyes and the milk drippings on his chin.  The way his thermal jammies fit so perfectly snug on his pudgy little thighs.  I had Christmas music playing softly from the computer (yes, I am already listening to Christmas music, so sue me) and then the song "Mary Did You Know?" (this version right here) came on.

It hit me.  This is what Mary did all those years ago.  She held the tiny infant Christ in her arms, fed him, giggled at the milk mustache above his lips.  She marveled at his beauty and his perfectness.  I am sure that she too was sometimes overcome with the responsibility that was in in her lap: to raise a perfect little spirit in this imperfect world (although she had waaay more pressure there).  She probably uttered many prayers under her breath or silently in her head to please, please let her succeed.  Please give her strength and knowledge beyond her current capabilities.  Let her be strong but kind.  Stern but gentle.  A soft place and a pillar.

At that moment, with the music tinkling in the background and my mind running at full speed, my baby grinned up at me, exposing his one white bottom tooth.  It could not have been planned better.  I pulled him close and breathed in his scent of baby soap, lotion and a bit of banana.  I planted a wet kiss on his forehead (not his lips, he gets mad and starts hitting if you kiss him there).

"Mary, did you know that when you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God?" sang Reba.  I was having one of those full-on "my cup runneth over" moments.  My other three kids were staring at me from the kitchen table as if I'd gone completely bonkers.  "You ok, Mom?"  Pipes asked.

Yes.  Yes I am doing awesome right now.  For that one second I got it.  I knew.  While this smiling baby, and those three kiddos drawing up a storm over there, are not the Great I Am, they are pretty special to this mommy.  After all, does Christ not say in the scriptures, "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me"?

Of course, the moment was soon over.  Wyatt wanted to get down to run over and push the bright green light (meaning he turns off the computer) and the little Picassos started fighting over who gets to use the skinny black marker (even though there are three other fat black markers in the marker jar).

But I had it.  And I thank Heavenly Father for the tender mercy He gave me tonight.  He helped me see that while right now raising these kids means a lot of diapers, laundry soap, muddy floors and toothpaste on the bathroom counter, some day these tiny people will grow into the glorious people that they are meant to be.  They will go out into this world and make it a better place (oh yes, they will be something to behold, let me tell you).



And I will get to witness it all.