My Arms Will Be Your Stairway

When they placed you in my arms I gently embraced you, bringing you closer to my heart and the love I held there for you so deep within it. I looked down at your beautiful little face as your tiny fingers reached across the distance between my heart and yours, and grasped my fingers tightly. It was in those moments when I received the precious gift of my first Memory Pictures…. my first glimpses of you!

And in those moments I promised you that the arms that held you then would be the stairway to all of the wonder and joy that was ahead of you; from a hug for you each time you cried  to the pride I felt each time you celebrated your dreams. I promised myself that I would be there for you always.

And the years passed… I was amazed at how a Mother’s heart could hold a capacity beyond measure of the love she held for her child. My arms were the stairway from your wounded little knee when you fell to, “making it better” when I held you.

When your little feet carried you the short span of distance away from me, jumping with joy…. turning on occasion to see if I was watching your wondrous little feats…. I held out my arms to you. As you laughed and ran back to me I reached out and swept you up  into my arms before hugging you close to me  feeling such thankfulness for the precious Memory Pictures I was gathering and the gift of your “child’s love” that tightly surrounded my heart and soul.

And time was… and you grew…. And at no time while gathering my Memory Pictures did I ever believe that your life with me would be measured.  

But in the quiet times when I miss you from the depths of my soul, I hug my arms around myself and  believe that your face is only a glimpse away from my heart and  your beautiful self is only a memory away from my arms; your love will never leave me…. I am your Forever Mom!

I then once again realize that, from the day you were born, I gave you the staircase to your dreams…. and in that moment when time stood still , God took you from my loving arms and embraced you in His own!

And  in the silence that surrounds me in my memories, I know that you are now My stairway to heaven as you hold me in your Angel Arms…. until the day we  once again embrace each other….

                          And I realize that My Arms were Your stairway to heaven!

                                                                 Millie P. Lorenz

This writing is dedicated In Memory of Ryan Hook, to his “Forever Mom”, Tamura Bush, and to all who have suffered the loss of a child. May these words be of comfort to you as you grow to believe just how precious your loving arms are!

                                                                Millie P. Lorenz