• Blog
    • All Posts
    • Write for Salt + Sparrow
    • Contributors
  • Spiritual Growth
    • Personal Testimonies
    • Spiritual Growth Scriptures
  • Salt + Sparrow

  • Devotionals
    • Bible Studies
    • Prayers
  • Christian Lifestyle
    • Motherhood

Salt + Sparrow

I Did Not Close My Eyes
Motherhood

I Did Not Close My Eyes

November 12, 2021

I have a confession to make.

Tonight, as you said your sweet little boy prayers, I kept my eyes open.

I stared at your precious little face.

I marveled at the way you closed your eyes and joined your little hands together, the way I learned as a child.

I hung on every single word you spoke to a God you are just beginning to know. I pray that journey of knowing Him, talking to Him, and needing Him, never leaves your open heart. 

I smiled when you prayed for your brother, a little tongue in cheek, that he would feel better, as he had a rough evening.

Some of your phrases are repetitive, yet I catch new statements that emerge with your daily maturation.

Praying for those suffering with illness while simultaneously praying for pets that have been dead and buried for years.

Yet, they remain constant fixtures in your little boy heart. 

I wanted to wrap my arms around your little frame. Rummage my hands through your still wet hair.

You, my youngest son, my always baby boy, are daily becoming a young version of the man you were meant to be.

Your thoughtfulness is unprecedented. Your kindness is overwhelming. Your empathy is off-the-charts. Your humor is…comparable to my own (three out of four ain’t bad, I think sarcastically to myself). 

Some nights I cannot wait for my head to hit the soft pillow and effortlessly drift into sweet slumber.

Tonight was not one of those nights.

I felt captivated by the blessing of you. The mysteries of your mind never ceasing to amaze my mother’s curiosity. The turning over of each new life lesson which comes at warp speed when you are barely nine years of age.

I didn't close my eyes

Pouring your precious little soul out to a Jesus you recently decided to make your Lord and Savior. The biggest decision you will ever make in your life.

My momma’s heart is on fire with pride, relief, excitement, and a bit of fear, knowing this road is a rocky one in which you will be tempted, tried, and tossed about in the sea of humanity. 

Yet, you, my child, my baby boy…you are strong. You are wise. You hunger for knowledge and thirst for adventure. You have a peace deep inside your soul that tends to reside in everyone around you, including me. You feel deeply. You love immeasurably. You accept without limits. You daily teach me more than I teach you.

At times I feel like a failure of a mother. At others, I am just so very thankful God chose me to be your mommy. He assuredly knew we needed each other. And I needed you perhaps more than you will ever need me.

Yet, I will be there. Cheering you on, encouraging you, engaging with you, redirecting you when necessary. I will always stand behind you, my baby boy.

At times, I will be front and center in your line of sight. At others, I will humbly step aside, knowing you need to fight battles on your own. But I will never step away completely. No matter how old you are, my mommy love will only deepen in measure with each passing day.  

Goodnight, my sweet boy. I thank the Lord for you. And I can only imagine the joy He feels at watching you pray those tender words straight from your lips; mine is only a fraction of His immeasurable delight when you nightly whisper His name. 

0 Comments
Share
Manndi Wilkins

Manndi Maphies DeBoef works at the UMKC School of Pharmacy and as a freelance writer in her spare time. Her greatest passion is being a boy mom to her two rambunctious, creative, endearing sons, William, age 11 and Waylan, nearly 9. Her sons never fail to provide daily entertainment, which inspires many of her writings. She also loves to write about everything from being a single mom and dating after divorce to finding love later in life, the devastation of miscarriage, the loss of a loved one and starting over. Her pieces are lovingly filled with inspiration, encouragement and always a touch of humor. “Live a life others wish to read about.”

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

You May Also Like

March 3, 2022

Friend Closer Than a Brother 

April 14, 2022

I’m an ‘Only’… and it’s Okay

April 5, 2022

A Simple Message: How Sometimes the Smallest Gestures Hold the Greatest Meaning

Grab your coffee and stay awhile

Welcome to Salt + Sparrow, a place where we learn about Jesus, the Bible, and find big faith in small things.

On Instagram

It’s a challenging time to be a Christian. But the good news is God created us for such a time as this. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 NIV

#Christianity #Jesus #God #Christian #Bible #faith #JesusChrist #Love #church 
#prayer #Bibleverse #christianlife #godsword #jesussaves #jesuslovesyou #wordofgod #christianwoman #dailybibleverse #verseoftheday #bible-quotes #godislove #jesusislord #dailydevotional #biblejournaling #christianliving #scripture #biblequote #christianlifestyle #christianmom #faith
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
It’s a challenging time to be a Christian. But the good news is God created us for such a time as this. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 NIV #Christianity #Jesus #God #Christian #Bible #faith #JesusChrist #Love #church #prayer #Bibleverse #christianlife #godsword #jesussaves #jesuslovesyou #wordofgod #christianwoman #dailybibleverse #verseoftheday #bible-quotes #godislove #jesusislord #dailydevotional #biblejournaling #christianliving #scripture #biblequote #christianlifestyle #christianmom #faith
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
"You see, we weren’t meant to stay young parents of young children. It was always part of the plan for our babies to grow up and, to some extent, to go away."

@sandybrannanauthor 💛
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
"You see, we weren’t meant to stay young parents of young children. It was always part of the plan for our babies to grow up and, to some extent, to go away." @sandybrannanauthor 💛
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
You better believe Jesus would welcome every single person at His table. But they’d walk away a changed person. They wouldn’t continue their life of sin.

There’s a difference between passing judgement that’s not ours to pass and knowing the difference between right and wrong- recognizing sin. I can recognize sin and still invite you to my table. But you better believe the topic of conversation is going to be about how God forgives. How He loves. How He offers salvation. 

Because leading you to Jesus is the biggest act of love I can show you.
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
You better believe Jesus would welcome every single person at His table. But they’d walk away a changed person. They wouldn’t continue their life of sin. There’s a difference between passing judgement that’s not ours to pass and knowing the difference between right and wrong- recognizing sin. I can recognize sin and still invite you to my table. But you better believe the topic of conversation is going to be about how God forgives. How He loves. How He offers salvation. Because leading you to Jesus is the biggest act of love I can show you.
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
Keep this somewhere you can see it. 💛
@realbrittanydawn
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
Keep this somewhere you can see it. 💛 @realbrittanydawn
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/4
@saltnsparrow
Currently Praying For

Currently Praying For

Ukraine

Shop My Favorites

Amazon

She Who Is

Bible Studies

Blog

Recent Posts

  • Woman in a field, raising her left hand in prayer

    Daily Prayer for Strength During Difficult Times

    August 9, 2022
  • Psalms for Comfort and Strength

    Psalms for Comfort and Strength

    August 4, 2022
  • martial arts

    Deeper Than the Surface: A Beautiful Lesson of Love from Martial Arts

    August 2, 2022
  1. Jenny Penner on Characteristics of True Friendship: Choosing Loving Truth Over Vain AgreementJuly 21, 2022

    I love you so ver much my precious little sister. I’m so thankful for your testimony. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

  2. Susan on Faith and Road Trips: How They Both Prepare Us for Our Final DestinationJuly 14, 2022

    Oh Sandy - This is so true - what a great piece! What a blessing to "leave our worries behind"…

  3. Sherlin Mini Emmanuel on Bible Verses for Comfort in Hard TimesJuly 7, 2022

    So true.The word of God gives hope, comfort, and encouragement.

  4. Elaine Onorio on The Blurring Seasons of LifeJuly 1, 2022

    Mama always says Your children will teach you a lot more than you ever taught them

  5. Cara Blondo on Fresh, Fat, and Flourishing: Aging in the Grace of GodJune 30, 2022

    I remember that acronym, too! I love it! I am so blessed that this encouraged and blessed you, and I…

Proverbs 16:16

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!"

About

It’s a challenging time to be a Christian. But the good news is God created us for such a time as this. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 NIV

#Christianity #Jesus #God #Christian #Bible #faith #JesusChrist #Love #church 
#prayer #Bibleverse #christianlife #godsword #jesussaves #jesuslovesyou #wordofgod #christianwoman #dailybibleverse #verseoftheday #bible-quotes #godislove #jesusislord #dailydevotional #biblejournaling #christianliving #scripture #biblequote #christianlifestyle #christianmom #faith
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
It’s a challenging time to be a Christian. But the good news is God created us for such a time as this. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 NIV #Christianity #Jesus #God #Christian #Bible #faith #JesusChrist #Love #church #prayer #Bibleverse #christianlife #godsword #jesussaves #jesuslovesyou #wordofgod #christianwoman #dailybibleverse #verseoftheday #bible-quotes #godislove #jesusislord #dailydevotional #biblejournaling #christianliving #scripture #biblequote #christianlifestyle #christianmom #faith
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
"You see, we weren’t meant to stay young parents of young children. It was always part of the plan for our babies to grow up and, to some extent, to go away."

@sandybrannanauthor 💛
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
"You see, we weren’t meant to stay young parents of young children. It was always part of the plan for our babies to grow up and, to some extent, to go away." @sandybrannanauthor 💛
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
You better believe Jesus would welcome every single person at His table. But they’d walk away a changed person. They wouldn’t continue their life of sin.

There’s a difference between passing judgement that’s not ours to pass and knowing the difference between right and wrong- recognizing sin. I can recognize sin and still invite you to my table. But you better believe the topic of conversation is going to be about how God forgives. How He loves. How He offers salvation. 

Because leading you to Jesus is the biggest act of love I can show you.
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
You better believe Jesus would welcome every single person at His table. But they’d walk away a changed person. They wouldn’t continue their life of sin. There’s a difference between passing judgement that’s not ours to pass and knowing the difference between right and wrong- recognizing sin. I can recognize sin and still invite you to my table. But you better believe the topic of conversation is going to be about how God forgives. How He loves. How He offers salvation. Because leading you to Jesus is the biggest act of love I can show you.
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
Keep this somewhere you can see it. 💛
@realbrittanydawn
saltnsparrow
saltnsparrow
•
Follow
Keep this somewhere you can see it. 💛 @realbrittanydawn
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/4
@saltnsparrow
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2022 Salt + Sparrow. All Rights Reserved.Site Powered by Pix & Hue.