“I don’t think I can do it, mom.”
“Baby girl.
I know you can.”
And just like that, she amazes me.
Time after time.
Words are hard to find when it comes to
describing a life with my Lily Bean.
Every second with her is like a really deep, cleansing breath.
Determined.
Funny.
Confident.
Thoughtful.
When she was a baby, I always said we could
leave for the weekend and she would be fine, as long as she had food, her
blankie “Bay” and her two fingers. It’s actually amazing to think about
now. Something about her was just so
calming, even as an infant. She brought
such a balance to our family that was desperately needed. That remains true to
this day.
On this past Sunday, her confidence
wavered. She had brought four of her
dear friends to a climbing facility to celebrate her birthday. I don’t think she thought through the fact
that she had never been rock climbing before.
Immediately in her first climb, I could see an unfamiliar look in her
eyes.
“Mom. I’m
scared. What do I do?”
“You can’t give up now, girl. Just take it one step at time. Remember. If
you fall, there is something there to catch you.”
The first step was the hardest. With each reach for the next rock, her pace
increased and her strength improved until she finally reached the top. And then she climbed to the top over and over
again.
That girl.
She is something else.
When I think of being the mother of Lily
Katherine O’Bryan, I think of lyrics from one of my college favorites:
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
~Jann Arden
Happy Birthday, my sweet Lily Bean. May you never stop climbing.
~ao
