Lullaby, Hold Me Tight

It is my privilege to welcome another author friend, guest Kimily Kay Duffield, who shares a sweet and precious family story about her first grandchild. Throughout Kimily’s story, she weaves a lullaby, a bonus gift for all of us to enjoy. Welcome, Kimily!

Lullaby, Hold Me Tight

by Kimily Kay Duffield

Infant eyes gazed up with wonder as if searching to know me. Imagine, my first grandchild living here, close enough for me to babysit often. We drank in those gifted hours together, rocking in the blessed quiet of my music room. Lullaby, hold me tight.

“Mom, Dad, we feel God moving us back.” Back was four states and fourteen hours away. My precious granddaughter was only five months old. Hold me tight and good-bye.

“We’ll still see you,” my daughter, Mary, assured me with the kind, sincere intentions and faith of the child she’d always been. “You’ll come and visit—often.” Lullaby, hold me tight. Flood my path with Your light.

“Travel with us, mom,” Mary entreated, while planning. “We’ll have the best time.”

Did I dare go? Could I keep the tears at bay? Would emotional opinions slip out, becoming regrets?

I did dare, and our lil’ caravan headed out, Josh in the moving van, we three girls chattering away in their little white Camry. We visited grandparents, parks, and zoos along the fourteen-hour drive, making forever memories.

Back home again, I wrestled in anguish and tears and prayers. “Father, a six-month-old can’t understand why a loved one has disappeared from her life. Show me how to pray. Please don’t let her feel I’ve abandoned her.” Lullaby, hold her tight.

One day, the LORD opened my heart to John 4:24. “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God is spirit and we are made in His image. No age restrictions apply to that! His Holy Spirit can touch and minister to the spirit of a child who is too young to understand.

After that, I ran to the secret place with God, often, closed my tear-drenched eyes, and lifted my palms to Him in surrender, with words or singing or simply listening. I prayed in faith, hundreds of miles away, and knew it was so. I chose to exchange my hows and whys for His rest. Lullaby, in my dark night.

Months later, my husband and I traveled to visit Mary and her family. We arrived in time for lunch out while lil’ Addi slept soundly in her car seat.

“Mom, she’s waking up. Do you want to hold her?”

“No, I don’t want to frighten her,” I replied with trembling lips.

“Mom! She will know you!”

I cradled my granddaughter in my lap, her eyelashes fluttering, awakening. I spoke soft words of welcome and she gazed up knowingly, like only a day had passed. Lullaby, oh so right, this precious gift of God’s delight.

 

Do any of you have special memories with grandchildren you may be separated from by distance?  How do you stay close? Just reply to this email or scroll down to make a comment. I reply to all comments and emails I receive! And if you know of others in your circle who enjoy family stories, please feel free to forward.

And . . . do you have a special family story to share? Just let me know at beckyvanvleet9@gmail.com.

Kimily’s bio:  Kimily Kay, longtime adventurer, friend of youth, and storyteller now presents her first novel, Samuri & Jewel, the Forbidden Friendship.  Kimily’s quest for intriguing books of wonder, friendship, adventure and faith began as a young momma. The early years of curling up to read aloud as a family, were soon joined by family camping trips and short-term youth missions. Writing a novel never occurred to Kimily, until Samuri and Jewel suddenly appeared in her mind’s eye, and she knew she had to tell their story.  Like her characters, Kimily loves friendship, courage, frothy hot drinks, long hikes, lakes, and secret places with God.

Kimily’s novel, Samuri & Jewel, the Forbidden Friendship, is a dystopian youth novel with Christian themes, written for both young people and adults alike. It is now available on amazon: https://amzn.to/431yXJR  Check out the blurb: