Love that makes us grow

While the lullaby is still playing, she lays her head on my shoulder with complete surrender. I rest my head against hers, and move my arm so that it lies protectively around her. We both enjoy this moment of surrender. Of cherishing and being cherished. Of love.

I think back to our moment earlier, when she was angry. Angry because I let her figure out how to get to her toy. That's love too.

The kind of transformative love that makes us grow. Not just the little ones, the bigger ones too. And especially ourselves. The kind of love that teaches us that we can achieve so much. Sometimes by being cherished. And sometimes by angrily running into boundaries.