I held you tightly in my heart before I knew your name. I wondered what you'd be like and if we would be the same. I held you in my stomach as I lay in bed at night. I felt for every kick and move and smiled in sheer delight! I held you as you cooed and cried before you learned to crawl. I held you when you had a bump or took a nasty fall. I held you as we rocked at night and sang our many songs. I held you as you walked to me the first time 3 steps long! I held you when you'd had a fight or when someone was mean. I held you after you'd been spanked for making quite a scene. I held you as I prayed for you when you were feeling low. I held you when you were mad at me because I had said no. I held you when you let me – as you were growing tall. I held you less with my arms back then than I had when you were small. But I always held you in my heart, and on my lips in prayer. That no matter where you moved or lived, I had you covered there. When adult friends hurt your feelings I'd want to hold you then I never saw you grown up – or just as another friend. But you were always my little child – someone for me to guide Someone to protect from this vicious world – within my arms to hide. But something happened the other day that felt like quite a blow The Lord told me my job was done and that I could let go. That I could still pray daily for all your hearts to soar And I could love you from afar and each day love you more. But the holding on just has to stop – you have your own lives (this I know). And so with love I write this to you – to tell you I'm letting go.