I visited my adult daughter (and her husband) over the weekend and decided that I was simply going to enjoy her presence.

No agenda.

Just being there with her, doing what she wanted to do. Even though I’m busy by nature, I put it to the side.

So we sat on the couch. We watched some shows. We did some crafts. We went to Target. We ate food. We played games. We laughed. We talked.

And it was perfect.

I knew it was a beautiful, simple time, but I didn’t realize how much it meant to her until we got ready to bring me back to the airport. Her husband and her (they both are military) surprised me by coming home from work a couple hours early and in that time, again, I just was with them. With her.

So by the time I left she looked at me and told me it was the “best, most wonderful visit ever.”

Tears.

Did we go places? Sightsee?

No.

We just enjoyed being in the same space for some time.

You see I won’t see her for months and as I sat on the plane watching the earth below I realized how life is such a beautiful experience when you get to spend it together.

Sometimes just being is the most powerful.

And sigh, I’m teary, because I miss her but also because I’m so incredibly grateful for the time we spent together.

The gift of presence is extraordinary.

-Rachel