hear what you say

Didn't you all grow up feeling really special

when your mom or dad would utter...

sweetly under their breath

or as a whisper in your ear...

sometimes even with a roll of their eyes

because they had given up a bit

the best

three words

a child could ever hear ?

~No~

not "I love you"

although that's nice, too

but sometimes used too often

~~~~~

What I'm talking about is even better

and as a parent myself

I remember when my kids were little

and I would take their hand in mine

and I could see

the light in their big eyes looking up at me~

and feel

the softness in their souls~

and I would melt

in the tiny upward curve of their lips~

when I would quietly say those three words

"just this once"

~~~~~

and it was like we had just shared something magical

because as a child

"no"

is so often heard

but if it is replaced by

"just this once"

then you have just

said something

that someone

will remember

forever