Redeemer

Grrr...
My crazy mouth says stupid things some days.  Today a friend was talking about having children....what do I say? "It's really hard!!!"  

Not that I was speaking untruthfully, but let's be honest, that's not the best way to advertise motherhood! Am I right?  Sure it is difficult some days, but they are so worth the struggle.  And when it is most difficult we learn so much!  Our best life lessons come through pain, and parenting can certainly bring that....pain, and love and growth and blessings beyond measure.

Recently we went through something very personal with one of our daughters.  It was by far thee hardest thing that I have ever had to "deal with" as a mother, thus far.  It HURT.  I was hurt for her, for us as her parents, for the world and culture we live in.  I literally felt broken.  I cried as hard as if I had actually lost a child, of course I can not compare this in reality, as I have never faced such a tragedy, but this is how my soul felt....like she had been lost.  And nothing I could do could repair this damage.  Parenting IS hard.  

But we do not parent alone....God has always been beside me.  He can redeem what has been broken or lost.  He makes all things new!  I cannot do these things, but I have the faith to trust that He will carry me during these darker times.  And my girls are witnessing God in these moments too.  Without any hard times, how would we truly recognize God at work?  I'm grateful for the "hard parenting days".  Much more grateful for the simple ones, where everyone is happy, and enjoys one another, sure.  But both bring blessing and great memories.  And in these days where innocence is fleeting, tweens years if you will....I am loving the opportunity that God is giving ME.  Opportunity to show grace, compassion, love, tenderness, and understanding to my daughters. To show Jesus. 

For one or two days, I struggled, cried, prayed.  Thought all was lost.  But my god is not the God of dead and lost things....He is the God of life and renewal!

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Being a mom means sharing what I love to do with my girls!
My baby and I on our way to family yoga class!

Being a mom means embarassing your kids and developing a great sense of humor in them!  I love being a mom.....more than anything on the earth.

Being a mom means watching your baby become a woman right before your eyes.  There is nothing like it, God's gift of a lifelong friend in a tiny package that all too soon grows to be taller than you and share your shoes....

Yes. Having kids is hard work.  But there is no other work in the world that I would rather do. There is no other work in the world that has a greater reward.