How Could I Ask for More?

It was a beautiful night. A cool evening breeze was blowing through the open windows and doors while the setting sun was casting one last warm glow throughout the darkening house. I was in the kitchen finishing up the dishes after putting a very sleepy Gracie Rose to bed early. I could hear Tess and her daddy doing the night time ritual: reading a book, praying and singing a song. They are having a great time. I can tell she is enjoying having her daddy to herself. I then hear her dancing and giggling--what a beautiful sound.

She comes into the kitchen to say goodnight, but as I turn to look at her, I see tears slowly falling down her soft cheeks. I lean over to her level and immediately ask her what is wrong. How could she go from being so happy just moments before? She says nothing is wrong, that she isn't sad, she just wants to cuddle with me for a little bit before she goes to bed.

I've come to believe that a feeling of overwhelming love and happiness can sometimes trigger tears from her. She has always felt things very deeply. She has cried tears of joy numerous times in her little life--including at her own birthday parties. As an infant she would ALWAYS cry when she heard the song "Rock a bye, baby". If it wasn't so sad it would almost be comical--just hearing the first few words of that song and immediately, every time, tears would flow. I think that a feeling of love would overwhelm her when she was being cuddled and rocked and that song just invoked those feelings in her.

So on this warm spring night, I'm not sure what was going on in that sensitive little four year old heart, but I grabbed the opportunity to snuggle up with my oldest on the lazy boy. Being cuddled together like this seemed to make her tears start to flow a little faster. Something about that moment with the curtains blowing so carelessly in the light of the setting sun, the smell of her hair, feeling her snuggle her head into my chest with her arms wrapped around me, I now was the one overcome with a deep feeling of love and thankfulness.

As I fought back my tears from flowing, I began to sing this old favorite...

There's nothing like the warmth of a summer afternoon
Waking to the sunlight and being cradled by the moon
Catching fireflies at night
Building castles in the sand
Kissing Momma's face goodnight
And holding Daddy's hand.

Thank you, Lord. How could I ask for more?

Running barefoot through the grass
A little hide and go seek
Being so in love, that you could hardly speak
Dancing in the dark, with no one else around
Being bundled 'neath the covers
Watching snow fall to the ground

Thank you, Lord. How could I ask for more?

So many things I though would bring me happiness
Some dreams that are reality today
Such an irony the things that mean the most to me
Are the memories that I've made along the way
So if there's anything I've learned from this journey I'm on
Simple truth will keep you going
Simple love will keep you strong
'Cause there are questions without answers
Flames that never die
Heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise

So thank you, Lord
Oh, thank you, Lord
How could I ask for more.

Truly, how could I ask for more?