In wonder and love he stared at her face,
A new babe sleeping; stillness swallowed their space.
A tiny apartment, but something had changed—
A swaddled infant brought grandness Heaven surely arranged.
For what seemed like hours, the new father watched as she rested.
“Your joy is mine; and I have never before been so tested.”
Hope turned to worry, as the weight settled in.
“How will I live up to this? Where do I even begin?”
He hadn’t all the answers, but he promised to find.
Then taking a deep breath, something came to his mind.
And the father sang:
“Little one, little one, rest this night.
Little one, little one, hold on tight.
The world you’ve come to is a remarkable place.
May you feel of its grandeur, beauty, and grace.
I will keep you safe; I will open the doors,
To opportunities for joy which will surely be yours.
May you see good in others, may you follow what’s right.
Until then, little one, God bless and keep you this night.”
When children hike, they start out on their feet,
But as mountains steepen, they search for a seat.
The father hoisted his young child up on his shoulders,
As they continued to climb the rocks and the boulders.
The evening came, bringing sore logs from the peaks.
He scrubbed grubby hands and cleaned dirty cheeks.
“Daddy,” she asked him, “Will I ever climb big like you?”
He laughed, tucked her in, and kissed her head too.
“One day you’ll run up mountains that steep.”
She smiled softly as she fell fast asleep.
And the father sang:
“Little one, little one, rest this night.
Little one, little one, hold on tight.
Your body is growing and so is your mind.
This life can be like that mountain, you’ll find.
There are highs and lows, and it’s often plain tough.
But I’m here for the smooth and I’m here for the rough.
You’ll climb mountains much taller, with your moxie and might.
Until then, little one, God bless and keep you this night.”
As the young girl grew, so did her mind and her spirit.
And when he offered advice, she did not want to hear it.
All the while he stayed close through her good times and bad.
She took him for granted, and still he treasured being her dad.
But as she matured, she again sought his love and assurance.
She cherished their friendship and his steady endurance.
She started a family and became a young mother herself,
Worrying each day over each child’s joy and their health.
Each night after prayers, as she tucked them in bed,
She stroked each chubby cheek and kissed each forehead.
And the mother sang:
“Little one, little one, rest this night.
Little one, little one, hold on tight.
The world you’ve come to is a remarkable place.
May you feel of its grandeur, beauty, and grace.
I will keep you safe; I will open the doors,
To opportunities for joy which will surely be yours.
May you see good in others, may you follow what’s right.
Until then, little one, May God bless and keep you this night.”
As the woman grew older, her father did too.
And her children treasured the grandpa they knew.
He still played on the floor, and on adventures he’d go,
Still up for hikes and exploring, until he started to slow.
This woman pretended not to notice, until at last,
The time finally came, and the good father passed.
The nights were the hardest, though the woman started to find,
If she focused on what he’d taught her, it brought peace to her mind.
When the sorrow was greatest and when she felt most weak,
She prayed like he taught her, until she heard Heaven speak:
And the Father sang:
“Little one, little one, rest this night.
Little one, little one, hold on tight.
The world you’ve come to is a remarkable place
May you feel of its grandeur, beauty, and grace.
I gave you a father to teach you just how special you are.
He is not gone forever, but watches you from afar.
You’ll see him again, to that truth, may you ever hold tight.
Until then, little one, I will bless and keep you each night.”
-hb mercy
(photo holding my first born in the hospital, day 1 of parenthood)
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