Love Them

Love Them.

 Remembering our mission as parents.

Here I am, basking in Jerusalem's golden light. A magnificent orange sun is rising. I catch its glow as my airport cab enters the holy city. My heart is pounding. In just a few moments, I will be holding my newest baby granddaughter, just four days old.

After what seems like eternity, I finally reach my destination. Though it is early morning and the building is eerily quiet, I race up the stairs, luggage in hand. I knock, barely able to contain my excitement.

My daughter opens the door and we happily embrace. Gingerly, she places little Elisheva Shimah in my arms. I kiss her soft silken head and gently put my pinky into her hand. I smile as her fingers instinctively curl round mine. She breaths deeply and I take in this miracle called life. I try to absorb the newborn scent, the eyes that suddenly flutter open, the delicate toes, and the curl of her mouth that becomes a smile. It is overwhelming. I am cradling a precious life – a gift from the Almighty.

As our children grow, sometimes it becomes easy to forget how privileged we are to be called ‘mommy' and ‘daddy.' Carpools need to be driven, baths wait to be drawn, and hungry children clamor for supper. Our bills pile up as we try to deal with tantrums, mountains of laundry, homework sheets, and fighting siblings in the backseat of the minivan. The sacred mission of parenting gets lost in the daily shuffle.

We wonder, "Am I really accomplishing greatness here? Do I genuinely make a difference in this world?" Each day seems to blend into the next.

You may never be written about on the front page of Yahoo or find yourself in Google Search for ‘Greatest Parents