Cherish

Cherish

1. to hold or treat as dear; feel love for: to cherish one's native land.

2. to care for tenderly; nurture: to cherish a child.

3. to cling fondly or inveterately to: to cherish a memory.

I often walk around the house and sing.  I don't do this when people are in the house, it's a private indulgence.  I'm a rather reserved person at heart and don't feel comfortable expressing myself quite so dramatically in front of others and certainly not through singing and dancing.  But there is a freedom to singing at the top of your lungs, crying at the words or dancing with exhilaration. Sometimes Wyatt would walk inside and catch me in my personal escape belting out some familiar chorus as I vacuumed or maybe dancing like a uninhibited child.  He would stop, stare, shake his head and then crack a little grin and give a little roll of his eyes and say "you're such a crazy person." Then he would saunter off shaking his head with the obvious thought of what's a boy to do with such a crazy mother. But, he knew that my uniqueness came with the package of him being my son and at least I had the sense not to purposely embarrass him in front of his friends. I do think there were times some of the boys would be congregated outside in the yard and could hear me if I sang out in some impromptu verse; I can only hope it made them smile and laugh and think that Wyatt was lucky to have a mom that was a little different from the others.

It's been raining now for three days and rain always reminds me of Wyatt. It rained the day he died. For some reason I'll Fly Away kept repeating through my head this morning and occasionally I would sing the chorus as I stood at the kitchen sink washing the morning dishes and watching the dirt run down our back yard.  Standing there thinking of my son, his life and how I miss his pure presence and all that he brought to living,  I thought how I wished all parents out there truly cherished their children. My great wish is that parents understand the amazing value, the incredible honor that it is to be a parent and to truly cherish their children, recognizing and valuing in both good and bad and all the struggles that being a parent bring, in the end they know that a child is the most the amazing gift any person can receive.  With their lives, our children enrich our lives, they bring a fresh wonderment to living and interject levity and joy into a world that is far too serious. The life of a child is such an astounding gift, so abundant and so constant are the treasures that we receive from our children the genuine value of sharing life with a child is almost hidden. Daily life becomes routine and we de-value our gifts, accepting them as commonplace. Trust me, being a parent is not commonplace, it's nothing short of miraculous and that enchantment does not stop with the birth. As a child grows, so grows the unique inner beauty that each holds within and as parents we foster and nurture to see them begin to flourish and shine in a light all their own.  Bring to the forefront of your mind the undeniable joys of parenthood, think of the smell of a newborn baby's skin, playing with homemade play dough, running through the sprinkler on a hot summer's day, eating ice cream, taking a walk together, reading a book together, decorating cookies, their first car, the prom and high school graduation, or simply sharing a hug, no doubt simple acts that bring us great joy.

Cherish the little children and all the wonderment they are, say I love you and sing for joy at the gift of all they bring. Sing loudly, sing freely, sing joyfully.

I'll Fly Away by Hank Williams