Samuel ~

Flickr: For attribution, click photo

I understood perfectly how Hannah felt.

..... unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had shut up her womb.  And Elkanah her husband said unto her: 'Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?' 

..... and she vowed a vow, and said: 'O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thy handmaid, but wilt give unto Thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life.

.... and she called his name Samuel: 'because I have asked him of the LORD." For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath granted me my petition which I asked of Him; therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he is lent to the LORD.'

This is my son. 

I'd been married almost 10 years when I realized that the babies weren't going to come so easily.  Many months later, along with much earnest prayer and mountains of paperwork, Samuel Nathan would finally arrive.  Korean-born, beautiful beyond belief, my first glimpse of him was from a photo only an inch square, casually stapled to official paperwork that would offer only the barest facts of his birth.  My heart was stolen away forever by this child, and I would instantly love him more than I ever knew was possible. 

Sam asked me one day...I guess he was about 5 years old at the time.  "Mom, if Dad and I were drowning and you could only save one of us, who would you save?  You'd save Dad first, because he's your husband, right?"

It didn't take me long to answer, my heart knew the words before they came out of my mouth.  "Sam, I'd save you first."

He thought about this for a moment, puzzling it out in his head. It didn't fit, I guess, because he followed up with "...But why Momma?  You love Dad more than me, don't you?"

"No Sam, I don't love Dad the most.  I love YOU the most.  If you were both drowning, I know Dad would be more capable to take care of himself, but even if he weren't, you are my first responsibility.  I would protect you first even if it meant losing your father."

"I love you Momma."

"I love you too, Sammy."

Flickr: For attribution, click photo

My Wish ~ Rascal Flatts

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yes, this is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yes, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yes, this is my wish.

 

Momma ~

Comments

[patty]

Such a beautiful story. How lucky you two were to have found each other!!!

[Linda]

Eileen,

What a touching tribute to the miraculous gift of motherhood!! So touching, I raised three little men also and love them so much!Now they have blessed our lives with 8 little granddaughters, one from China. Isn't the Lord amazing? Linda

[Jen Day~sugaredsongbird]

What a wonderful story of blessings! Coincidentally our pastor preached on Hannah for Mother's Day!

[karen]

I love that story...You were all blessed to have found each other! karen...

[Diane Knott]

Eileen, Mother Love - not every biological mother is a mother in the true sense of the word. Maternal instincts - what can I say to add to what you've written and shared? You've said it and shown it so beautifully!
Sammy is blessed and so are you.
Diane

[Susan Elliott]

This is a beautiful post Eileen.

[~ ~AHRISHA~ ~at JoyouslyLivingLife]

Your Son is beautiful. What a great story I feel honored to hear it. You are indeed Blessed~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

[Terri Morse]

Eileen,thanks for sharing your wonderful story. You made me think again on how grateful I am for my own beautiful son. Your boy radiates joy. God has blessed you all.

[tiffany]

Eileen, your son is beautiful, as is your relationship. Thank you for this post, it was so lovely!
happy mother's day!
xoxo, Tiffany

[Rose]

Eileen one more thing. I hope you had a Beautiful Mothers Day! Rose

[Rose]

Hello Eileen, I just started reading your Beautiful Blog a few weeks ago. I have insomia and therefore catch up on all the beautiful blogs late at night completely undisturbed :) Tonight your post made me cry. It is truly beautiful. I have 2 daughters, but I myself am a daughter and we just lost my dad March 14, so the pain is still deep. But although he was my "step" dad as many people call them, in my heart he was MY dad, he loved us so well and so deep that when I read your post, I so got it, not as a mom but as a child, I understood exactly how much your son must love you. Thank you so much for sharing that beautiful post. Although it made me cry, I can honestly say they were blessed tears. Thank you for sharing your beauty both creative and yourself with all of us. Rose

[Deb]

Beautiful post Eileen! Happy Mother's Day.

[vero]

Your son is gorgeous. No wonder he stole your heart at first sight.

[mary]

Thank you for sharing your precious story of your son with us!! I so enjoyed it -

Blessings and Happy Mother's day!

mary

[fitty]

Happy Mother's day Eileen.. hope you have a wonderful day celebrating mother's day with your love ones!

have a good week too!
xo
fitty

[ldh]

A most heartwarming post of the immeasurable love between a mom and her son. His name is so fitting. Thank you for sharing this precious story.