beauty

A couple of weeks ago I was up all night with a sick baby girl.  She had a fever of 103 and was throwing up about every 30 minutes.  I changed her pajamas, diaper and sheets several times throughout the night.  A little before the sun came up, I woke up with a naked warm baby in my arms.  There was a clean diaper and pj's next to my head, but apparently I had fallen asleep before dressing her.  After five children, I believe this was my first time ever cuddling with a naked ball of baby.  She is such a chunky thing.  and so soft she practically melts in my arms.

I've reflected back on that moment several times since.  Her perfect round little body, in all it's natural beauty.  There are more rolls on her than we can count, and we love each one of them.  I hope that as she grows, she is able to understand and appreciate how beautiful she really is.

I was inspired again by her beauty this morning, as we hung out together in my bed, long before the boys woke up.  She was sitting up, holding her hands out in front of her and watching them open and close.  open and close.  open and close.  She was mesmerized by each little finger.  And I was mesmerized by the miracle of the human body.  I tried not to disturb the moment by grabbing my phone and snapping a shot or two.

When she is a teenager and is struggling with her body image, or when she is thirty-something and can't seem to lose those extra few pounds that come along, I am going to tell her about these moments I had with her as a baby.  How beautiful she was when she was born.  How her soft skin glows in the sunlight.  How her big bright eyes twinkle.  How each of her perfect body parts were created by a God who knows exactly what He's doing.  How, after years of praying for her, she was finally sent to our home.  She is perfect and beautiful in every way.  As am I.  And each of His children...  naturally beautiful, just the way we are.