Do you ever have those small moments that surprise your heart? Often it is my heart’s realization of the littlest things that catch me by total surprise.
My daughter’s due date of December 24th, 2013 put my planning self (and honestly, surprise-hating self) into full on list making mode. We had our birth plan written, nursery prepped and ready, bags packed and “she’s arrived” emails drafted in our inboxes. Talking through many scenarios of what her arrival could look like, Scott helped me feel as prepared as possible in the unpredictable situation of waiting for a baby to arrive.
My big Christmas surprise didn’t come in the hurry and flurry of labor and delivery, but it came in the calm and quiet right before we left the hospital.
Our bags were packed, car seat installed and I sat holding Olive as the nurse came with the final discharge papers for me to sign.
As she pulled up a chair and clicked the pen for me to begin signing documents, she asked, “Sophie, is this your baby?”
My. Heart.
Tears welled up in my eyes and I could barely choke out a reply because my heart was surprised by and realizing the enormity of these 5 simple words.
Her question could have been easily answered with a “yep” or even a nod, but I couldn’t find the words to convey what was being represented at that moment. This was my daughter. This is the baby who God has given me to raise. This is my little one to guide through life’s struggles and with whom I will celebrate life’s joys.
I didn’t know I would be asked this question before I could leave the hospital. I was totally surprised by this. I’m so glad though that I was asked, because it caused my heart to stop and treasure up the moment. It caused me to pray for strength and wisdom before I headed out into the cold, rainy world with my warm, delicate girl.
This made me pause and think of Mary raising sweet baby Jesus on this earth. Luke 2:19 tells us that, “…Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Now, I know my sweet girl is not the Savior of the world (although her grandparents would argue she is nearly perfect) ;), but in the same way as Mary and Joseph, Scott and I are raising a child who is not our own. She is the Lord’s. So our job is to do the best we can and treasure up and ponder the small moments with her.
I need to let my heart be surprised by the power in the small moments more often.
What small moments will surprise you this season? What little things will you treasure up and ponder? What unplanned things will you allow to grab your heart and bring you joy?
Be on the lookout for them….in the squeals and giggles of children, in the prayer of a grandparent, in the embrace of a parent, in the familiar smell of the wood stove, in the sound of the flight attendant reminding you to prepare for landing, in the silence of the falling snow. Look, listen and let your heart be surprised by the seemingly ordinary.