Lilly is a big fan of running up to me and squeezing my leg at random times of the day. I could be feeding Isabelle, going through the mail, doing some school work with Levi, or cooking dinner. She just runs at full speed into my leg and squeezes. It is the easiest way for her to hug me at her level. I have been in the habit of patting her head half-heartedly and not really paying much attention to it, probably because it happens so frequently during the day. But a few days ago, as I felt those little arms embrace me, the Lord gave me pause. Some day, I won't have this little girl squeezing my leg throughout the day. The days when she may not want to hug me will be here before I know it. Those awkward teenage years when she sees every little problem like the end of the world and thinks I don't know anything are really not that far away. At 3 years old she is displaying this incredible gift of showing love and affection. Am I returning it? Am I encouraging it? Or am I being so apathetic to her displays of love that one day she will become discouraged enough to stop all together? These thoughts stopped me cold. I reached down to my middle child and scooper her up in my arms. "I love you to pieces," I told her as I squeezed her tight. That was just one little moment in a day full of many "leg squeezes" that come throughout the busy day. I hope and pray that I don't forget that moment and learn to treasure and encourage those times no matter what is on my to-do list! I won't ever get those little hugs back, so today (and every day I hope) I will choose to not ignore them but to stop and welcome them!
