Annabelle
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After I had my first child, Arden, my little seven-year-old niece, Gabrielle, would come over to see me and bring her little “Annabelle”, her dolly. As we mothered our babies together, I noticed how thoroughly she mothered her doll and how energetically she went about her chores of changing diapers and burping her baby. There was a sparkle in her eyes and you could tell that she was dreaming of the day when she would really be a mother.
It tugged my heart with remembrance of my own childhood days and doll playing. I remembered being lost in play, mothering my dollies like they were real, and loving every moment.
Even though I so enjoy being a mother and I love, love, love my children, this song was written as a prayer unto God to keep within me the childhood delight of mothering. I pray that God will keep me from being a jaded adult, losing sight of the joy and fun in even the simplest tasks.
SERENE ALLISON
ANNABELLE
Dedicated to our Niece, Gabrielle Campbell
I cuddled my baby and whispered a sweet lullaby,
I swaddled her in a blanket I’d made by hand,
I kissed little Annabelle’s cheek as I held her tight,
She was the prettiest little baby doll in all the land.
For a girl of seven wanted nothing more,
It was more than just pretend, it was what I was made for.
CHORUS:
Only a childhood dream
But make it real, let me be
Like the mother in my childhood dream.
All the dolls and the teddies I lined in a row,
The more I could gather the more fun it was to play,
I read them a story and told how I loved them so,
I was happy and wistfully dreaming of the day.
For a girl of seven wanted nothing more,
It was more than just pretend, it was what I was made for.
CHORUS:
Only a childhood dream
But make it real and let me be
Like the mother in my childhood dream.
BRIDGE:
Grant me this little girl’s wish,
With arms full of heavenly treasures,
May I be as contented and joyful
And give me the sparkle of childlike pleasure.
CHORUS AGAIN.