Invited to the Mountain Top

Tonight marks the end of an emotionally draining weekend—the kind that leaves you bone-tired clear down to your soul. I was sitting in the living room, completely poured out, when my granddaughter came out to get me. Her mama was reading to her from the Graphic Bible we gave her for Christmas, but she climbed up beside me, snuggled close, and said, “Gheez, I want you to come read with us.”

I lay down beside them in the quiet dark, watching her hold fast to Mr. Sprinkles as her mama’s voice carried the stories and her breathing slowed into sleep. Looking at those sweet little arms wrapped tight, a wave of joy hit me so fierce and sudden it stole the breath right out of my chest. All that heavy exhaustion just evaporated. My heart swelled until it felt like it would burst open, and all I could do was offer up a tearful prayer of thanks for this breathtaking, precious gift.

​Children are a blessing, but being sought out and brought into a moment like that by your grandchild? There are no words deep enough for that kind of love. I’ve walked through my share of dark valleys, but lying there with my girls tonight, I was standing on the absolute mountain top.

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
         — Psalm 126:3