Some nights when it's time for bed (or should I say "past" time for bed), Kambriella is so tired or overly exhausted that she just doesn't know what to do with herself. So, after all of the normal bed time routine is done, it's usually best for me to tell her that I will give her a few minutes to herself and then be back to check on her.
It never fails that when I return, I find one little sleeping beauty. :)
The other night however, she was being so sweet and cuddly that I couldn't help but feel excited at her invitation to cuddle by her.
I plugged in her fairy lights, pushed "play" on her CD player and laid right beside her sharing her pillow. She threw her little arm around my neck and together we lay there talking quietly and listening to Josh Groban's Christmas album. I was feeling especially loved. :)
Then, just when you think a moment can't get any sweeter, the 3rd song on the CD began to play...(which Kambriella has told me over and over is her very favorite song)
"I'll Be Home For Christmas."
If you have ever heard this song by Josh Groban you will know that his version of the song has military service men and women and their families sending each other tender Christmas wishes since they are so far apart for the holidays. It is a very touching song.
As I was laying there next to Kambriella listening to what she had to say, she suddenly got very quiet and listened as the song began. Then she said to me...
"Mom, do you know sometimes I cry tears of joy?"
Hold on...Wait a minute...Seriously?????????
I was speechless and felt this overwhelming spirit pour over me and a large lump forming in my throat...you know the ones where you think you are going to cry but you "are strong" and you just KNOW you can hold it back???
I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything at all.
I just listened.
"Mom, I just love this song so much! It makes me feel so happy inside that I even cry tears of joy! Do you know that there are some people who dress in green costumes and they are far away from their families, and they love their families so much that they just want to be with them?"
I could see where her little heart and mind were going...She was talking about these military people, and the sincere messages that they were sending their families was helping her to feel just how much they loved them and how much they wanted to be home.
As I looked over at her little face, I too almost began crying tears of joy because she had closed her eyes, and was folding her arms, and I felt her little body quiver with emotion as she was truly feeling the spirit of the message in the song.
I then took the opportunity to teach Kambriella because I knew that the Spirit was there and that she would know the things that I was teaching her were true.
I told her that she was so sweet to feel how much love those people had for their families and that she was a sweet little 5 year old girl with a heart as big as the moon!
I told her that she was a special daughter of God and that he loved her just like those people loved their families, and that Heavenly Father wants us to do as much good in the world as we can so that one day we can go "home" to Him.
She didn't say much else, other than "I love you Mommy."
But she didn't need to say anything else at all.
Her heart said everything loud and clear, and the spirit of love was so strong in that room.
I know that there are many ways that we can feel Heavenly Father's love in our lives, and that there are many times each day that I truly do feel His love. Listening to good music is definitely one way that I feel close to Him and feel His love...and another is through tiny tender mercies such as this little experience with my sweet baby girl.
I felt His love for me so much, along with the love that He has for all of His children.
And I felt the enormous amounts of love that He has for Kambriella too.
What an amazing little girl with a miraculous tender heart.
