The (big) girls and I sat in wonder while listening to Pablo Casalas playing Bach. For sixteen minutes we held each other in stillness, listening to overwhelming beauty. My 3 and 1 year olds were silently awestruck, as was I.
The music played only a part in this concert of glory.
We reclined back on a big bed, soft and welcoming. We wrapped our bodies in blankets and then wrapped each other in eager arms. The soft, mid-morning sun poured butter yellow through the curtains, its warm perfume bringing peace and ease to our moment.
It wasn't forced. It wasn't planned.
After a hectic morning with an all-too-tired Momma and 3 all-too-lively girls, I nursed baby Z and put her to bed. Feeling as though my older daughters needed some special cuddles, I turned off all distractions and read them a few stories.
Israel asked, "Momma, can we listen to beautiful music?"
That's what she calls anything with a cello.
And so, this glorious moment was born. It came without pressure. It came without grand expectations or high ideals.
It was a genuine outpouring of 3 female hearts in love with each other, with the music, with all the blessings God had created to simply bring 3 of His daughters incredible joy for 16 unplanned minutes on an inconsequential Sunday morning.
I remember gazing at beautiful new colors the sun was creating in Helen's hair when I thought, "Oh, where is my camera?"
I forced myself to stay.
To be still.
To be present in this moment of glory.
I felt my heart hope the Lord would burn every detail of those 16 minutes into my very fallible brain. The way Israel's hand felt in mine. The way Helen's fingers tickled as she absent-mindedly stroked my arm. The burning warmth on my face as my daughters took turns holding my cheeks in their hands and then giggling wildly for some unknown reason to me, but surely one of those dear little secrets locked up in the hearts of sisters to only be shared with each other.
The smell from their hair was all sunshine and lillies and butter and velvet.
Sixteen minutes of exultation for my soul in Jesus through the closeness of my daughters and the beauty of music.
