Every family has those "breaking points"... moments where you just want to throw your hands up and call it quits because it feels like every wall is caving in on you. When you're newlywed, it's those 'big' fights you have and you just want to run away to Mom and Dad's, and when you first bring home baby (after family leaves) it's that moment when you want to drive back to the hospital and try the 30-day-lay-away-while-you-make-up-your-mind option. It happens. Doesn't matter where you live, how much (or little) family you have surrounding you, how strong your faith, whatever. Life happens and it can sometimes feel overwhelming.
A few months ago, Todd and I were getting very close to that point. We were tired, weary, and homesick. We hadn't totally settled into being a family of 4 and the idea of 5 was properly frightening. But God is good. He answered long-standing prayers about our house in Illinois. We received a TON of encouragement from LINKS churches, College Church, friends and family. And, we've gotten a number of packages from likely and unlikely sources. It was one of those times where you can see God working through other people in your life, and Todd and I were so encouraged.
Today was one of THOSE days. Every mom has them. The ones where everything goes wrong, your kids make you want to join them in their crying fits and dinner is burnt. I was trying to hold it all together, telling myself that I'm a good mom despite the morning's set-backs, when I went to get Em from school. Yesterday, as I was pulling in to wait for school to get out, the car died. I was coasting to a stop, so the timing was as good as it could get, but still. Todd had to come, the car seats had to be moved. Mechanics and then towing were summoned. It was a disaster AND both kids were starving for their lunch. So today, I drove Todd's car. When Em saw the car, she was so excited, until I got out, and then she started hysterically crying because I was "just mommy but I want DADDY!!!" Great. Makes a mom feel really good about herself, right? And it went down from there.
But when Todd walked in with a package, from friends at Parkside Nazarene Church in my hometown, it was like that one good, deep breath that you need to keep from falling apart. When I opened it, it was blessing upon blessing- just like ALL our recent packages. We've received everything from socks and underwear to magna-doodles and baby monitors. I'm telling you, you wouldn't think tennis shoes would be such a big deal until you move to a country that only goes up to a US sized 9, when you're a 9 1/2 and then get pregnant, twice and move up to a 10 until it happens. And then, those shoes make you so happy you kiss them, and want to kiss the sender and the lady who donated them and the shoe sales person for selling them to the lady who donated them.
As we round out another tough week, with a car in the shop with what will be a heavy price tag to get the thing running again, amongst other things, I'm reminded of how God's timing is perfect. Providential. How small and fleeting my issues really are and how even the birds of the air get taken care of... so I've got nothing to worry about.
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26
1 comment:
What you wrote speaks volumes!
I share it with another young mom with two very strong little children! :-) You will never know how YOU have helped her through your honest-sharing of your life!
God gave you a wonderful gift of writing, Brittany! So, perhaps He allows these things to come to you because He know you will share -- and He will be honored.
And, you are right -- they come to most all moms. Yet, not all moms have the gift to share like God gave to you.
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