Bella's Gift by Rick Santorum

Author:Rick Santorum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

9

LOVE OBLIGATES KNOWLEDGE OF THE BELOVED

• Karen Santorum •

[T]hou didst form my inward parts,

thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful.

Wonderful are thy works!

Thou knowest me right well.

—PSALM 139:13–14

It was a rainy, cold winter morning. The snow that had fallen a few days before, outlining the shrubs and trees in white and making the world look magical, was melting. The world around us went from looking peaceful and pure to dreary and dark. It was the kind of day when you want to pull the blankets up and stay in bed when the alarm goes off. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and a cup of hot coffee on this cold morning was just what I needed.

I dragged myself out of bed after being up with Bella several times through the night and got Sarah, Peter, and Patrick off to school. We talked at breakfast about their school day and after-school sports schedules and were all laughing because Patrick told us a funny joke. When we realized it was 7:10 and they should have left at 7:00, they ran out the door with their backpacks and lunch boxes, but I managed to fit in hugs and “I love you” three times.

Every morning when the children leave for school, I light a candle and say my morning prayers. I thank God for watching over us during the night, offer up special intentions, thank Him for the gift of this new day, and ask Him to bless and protect my family. As I was reading a meditation, my eyes got heavy, and before I knew it I was asleep at the table. I was awakened to Bella’s singing on the baby monitor. It’s a two-way video monitor, so I pushed the button and said, “Good morning, beautiful!” With that, Bella was beaming with smiles as always.

I stood up from the table, half awake, closed my robe to keep the chill out, and went up to hold Bella. She loves listening to music in the morning, especially Enya, Disney, and Celtic Women. We snuggled in bed as we talked about the day and sang a few songs. It reminded me of all the times Rick and I would wake up in the morning to our six other children who, when they were small, would wander back into our room and nestle into our arms. Eventually, I had to break away from my morning Bella bliss to begin the work of the day. When I’m with Bella, time seems to stand still and my worries melt away.

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