I was rocking my infant daughter early in the morning. The house was still quiet, and though two other young children resided there, at the moment it was just us, the baby and me. She kept gazing up at me with her large eyes that I was becoming more and more sure would stay blue, and I smiled back at her adorable smirk.
I am so blessed, I thought, and I thanked God for my lovely daughters right that minute.
It was a beautiful moment, and one that I cherish still, which was probably for the best since she became cranky a few minutes later.
I’ve discovered that it’s wonderful to be able to see God’s blessing of children in your life as a mother. Those moments when your toddler sleeps are especially precious. Those instances where they say, “you’re the best mom ever;” well those moments are the best. When everyone is getting along, and especially when they decide to share, it’s pure magic, and you think, I am so blessed! Cause you are, right?
But then before you know it the baby is screaming bloody murder because she doesn’t want a bath, and the three year old is shrieking in ear-piercing distress simultaneously because her shoes are on the wrong feet. You’re running late, and no one understands simple directions when you’re headed out the door. This from little people that can control complex electronic devices with ease. Sheesh.
Sweet angels become absolute terrors when nap time is withheld, and if you have to yell out empty threats one more time you may just demand a nap for yourself. The sound of SpongeBob’s laughter on repeat eminating from your minivan speakers is more than you can bear, and when it mixes with the whines of a tattletale extraordinaire you are reminded how hard it is to swat someone two seat lengths behind you.
Like I said it’s wonderful to say as a parent that you are blessed, but it’s even more important to remember it when you feel a bit less than blessed. Like when you feel stressed. In those moments of perfectly normal parental agony it’s most fundamental to remind yourself of the blessing part. In fact, it’s a bit of a sanity saver.
When you’re trying to get gum out of your daughter’s hair.
I am blessed.
When you’re breaking up fights, dueling out punishment, and wanting to cry yourself.
I am blessed.
When your scrubbing the bathroom floor, doing another load of laundry, and fixing supper when you don’t even feel like it.
I am blessed.
Because it’s easy to feel blessed when everything is blissful, but it’s more rewarding to remember it in the harder moments.
Like when a newborn is colicky and will not sleep.
I am blessed.
Or when teaching a school lesson is akin to an ice pick in the brain and homework is a hair-pulling experience.
I am blessed.
In all the moments, not just the pristinely perfect ones, but even in the ugly, I-just-lost-my-temper moments.
I am blessed.
Because as parents we are, and so many times we do well to remind ourselves of that fact.
I am blessed.
Our lives-His Purposes, Ruthie's impressions says
Yes indeed!