Call it lack of sleep from a baby who decided to wake up at 5am laughing at me, probably thinking, ‘If I smile big enough she won’t care that its so early!” I am inspired this morning.
Another friend of mine has started a journey of her own. Before I continue I realize journey is a word I am using a lot and feel its necessary to define for myself and those reading. Journey: a. The act of traveling from one place to another; a trip.
b. A distance to be traveled or the time required for a trip: a 2,000-mile journey to the Pacific; the three-day journey home.2. A process or course likened to traveling; a passage. As a mother this process of travel is most often just to the grocery store is an adventure and your learning something new from your kids, but in this case we are looking at the bigger picture. Back to my friend starting a journey of her own. She continues to inspire me with her strength and compassion and decided to go full force with women’s ministry, with me in tow. I have four boys, so understandably the opportunity to be with women was an amazing concept. Although I was spear heading I found that I couldn’t wait to help influence these women through a bible study, because just like when I taught preschool, I learned so much more while teaching than not!
So now, here I sit, having been up since 5am realizing that although my world is dirty diapers, meals, snacks, and then throw in every boy toy you can imagine I am truly blessed. I read stories of mom’s whose struggles go so far beyond 5am wake ups and whiny 2 year olds.
I know a mother who waits everyday for her autistic son to smile at him. I remember this when my 2mth old can’t take his grin off his face and then I have three more right behind him waking up with a smile. How can I can complain?
I know a mother who waits in a hospital room watching her 3.5-year-old son struggling to breath waiting for lungs. A life long battle of fear and questioning since he was diagnosed with cancer. How can I complain?
I know a mother whose 1 year old’s first hair cut will be from a neurosurgeon because of a chromosome disorder he was born with. Everyday is doctor’s appointments, and questions of what next and she continues to care for her other children, provide for other children outside of her home, and smile and love life despite the journey. Again, I ask, how can I complain.
In the end, we all have our own struggles. The women I listed above are just a few that influence me everyday. Not to compare my life’s struggles but to realize that life is what you make of your circumstances. Sometimes they really suck! Lets be honest! Sometimes life truly does throw lemons right at your head. You can dodge them, or try to catch them to take with you on your journey. Lets be honest with out those ‘lemons’ or trials to be metaphorical, we can’t look at the positive things in our life as blessings.
So now my post is becoming rambling so I will get to the long and short of my story. I am a mom of four beautiful boys. They are 5, 4, 2 and 2mths olds. Typically when I say their ages I get looks of disgust, awe, and just plain shock. There are days it truly is chaos more often than not, but they are best friends. I sell Thirty-One Gifts, a Christian based company that inspires women everyday and it continues to bless this family. I continue to do photography when I can, and if I can watch kids on the side. At the end of the day I am Matthew, Ben, Joe and Sam’s mom. I am Bill’s wife and I wouldn’t ask for another title. I have found myself as most moms do saying after I am ready to go out, “I don’t look like a mom of four, do I?” To which my husband responds, “I don’t know how to answer that, so I will just say you look beautiful.”
In asking that question for what feels like the hundredth time, I realized I need to rethink myself. I need to see myself through other’s eyes. I am a mom of four boys. Some days I am a mom to four superheroes, which makes me pretty proud. Although that title may seem mundane to me some days, others see it as so much more.
I am blessed to have such strong women in my life, I am blessed to have such an amazing family, and I am most definitely blessed to serve the God I serve. I could make this post so much longer, to be able to call out each of the persons in my life that bless me everyday, to show them their struggles are not in vane and are touching others, but for now I will just let each person know that they make my life better. If you are reading this feel blessed today knowing that whether you are in a time of trial or blessing, today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. I received that text this morning for another virtuous woman I am blessed to know, what a way to start the day J!
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31
