Sunday, November 23, 2008

Too Much Love

These cold Fall Wisconsin mornings, my daughter and I wait for her school bus in our "rural" driveway. It's not a lot of time, but I am thankful that I get to spend these moments with her.

We play frisbee with our dog, and admire the way the morning sun back-lights her, making the edges of her white fur glow.

We examine the structure of snowflakes that land on her black gloves.

We have a special routine of hugs and handshakes that we go through each day. We also recite God's promises we have memorized. Some mornings, it's so cold we can see our breath as we practice these verses, saying them out loud into the air.

Recently it has been, "For you have not received a Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind," out of 2 Timothy. This was verse we learned at bed time, and very appropriate the days she is feeling anything but courageous.

One morning, after saying this verse to me, I looked into her big blue-green eyes, misty with emotion. She hugged me tightly, not wanting to let go and then she said, " I think I have TOO MUCH love, dad."

8 comments:

christianne said...

That is so sweet. What a tender moment. I can feel the fullness of love between the two of you in these moments and words.

23 degrees said...

Thanks, Christianne. I am so blessed and lucky to be her dad.

L.L. Barkat said...

Too much love... can it be? Would that we'd all have too much love...

Loved the way you recaptured this moment in beautiful words...

23 degrees said...

Well said, Laura.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jena said...

brings tears to my eyes...

23 degrees said...

She is a sweetheart! Thanks for dropping in, Jena.

kirsten said...

too much love ...

i can see how she would think it, why she would say it on a morning when she recalls God's promises with her dad, who does not want to lose a moment with her.

sometimes it does seem too much. but i am glad for it all the same for those days when i correctly realize that in & of myself, i am not enough.

thank you for sharing this glimpse of heaven with us ...

23 degrees said...

Kirsten, thanks for stopping by, I hope you are settling in well at your new home.

Your words make me wonder if she will remember these times when she is older, maybe waiting out in the morning air with her little ones for the school bus to arrive. If she will share the same hugs and promises...and if the love inside of her will have grown even stronger.