You’re Okay Now

You’re okay now.
You’re okay now.

I said these words to my daughter today, over and over again until the words became a song with a rhythm all its own.  My body became my daughter’s safe haven as she softened into it, her breathing matching my own. I stroked her hair as she sat in my lap and fell asleep, and even after she was deep in sleep, the song turned into a hum.  And I hummed the words to myself, a petition and a meditation.

All morning today, since dawn, I felt like a weight was on my chest.  I don’t wake up like this daily or even weekly, but when I do, the feeling is hard to shake.  While I truly live a good life, this morning, I got caught up in the details of a typical day.  Even though I promise to myself to look for the beauty in the everyday, this morning, it was harder to see with the mundane swarming all around me. Worries and frustrations loomed and I faltered under their weight. I’m a work in progress and sometimes, I forget the way I work so hard to show to others. 

But when my daughter crawled into my lap this afternoon to be comforted and I made up a song to make her feel better, I was reminded that the beauty is right there–right in my arms.  I sang and the song turned into prayer.  And she feel asleep and I was healed, again and temporarily.

I learned my lesson again today and I might forget again, too.  The wonderful thing is that while I might lose my way sometimes, the way will always come back to me.  These small children show me the way.

You’re okay now.
You’re okay now.

Thanks for Mothering the Divide with me as we all learn and relearn the way that works for us and learn that our safe havens are in the arms of those we love.