Hug them tight

Got kids? Hug them tight. Tell them how much you love them. Tell them thier strengths and what you admire about them. Don't wait. Tell them now. Even if you don't think they are listening, tell them you love them and lift them with compliments.

Tonight, my heart breaks for a family. Today, their two year old daughter (www.laylagrace.org) went to Heaven. I have a two year old. I can not fathom what they have gone through or what they are now experiencing. Tonight, there is a grieving mom, dad, and two sisters who don't understand but have no choice in accepting this hard cold reality of loss. It breaks me.

Kale has been going to bed really well lately. Most nights, he doesn't even cry out anymore when the music/light machine quits. He just zonks out. For some reason, tonight was different. He cried out and kept crying. He called and called for daddy. He called and called for me. I resisted, but then thought of Layla Grace and her family...and I went to him. God gave me an extra excuse to spend 10 more minutes holding my child and comforting him. Tears rolled down my face as I realized that there are mom's everywhere that would give anything to be able to do this with a child who now resides in Heaven.

So...don't forget to give your kids an extra hug. Don't forget to tell them you love them. Don't forget to remind them that they are a blessing. And even if you think they aren't listening or aren't old enough to understand, tell them why they are a blessing and remind them of the traits that make them so special.