How often do you stop and consciously think just how blessed you are and have been, regardless of your current circumstances? Do you often look around and feel fortunate to have your life? Do you love your life, warts and all?
The past few weeks I've been quite introspective, thinking about what I'm doing well and what I'm not doing so well. I've dealt with some of my own failings as a parent. I posted a painfully honest post about the realities of growing up in my family on the blog I share with my sister. If you read it without knowing me, you might think I was whining and, truthfully, I can say with all sincerity, I wasn't whining. Getting to know my little sister has brought many leftover feelings to the forefront of my mind. I've been revisiting them, trying to be scrupulously fair to all the people involved and concluding, despite all the fairness I can muster, that things were seriously messed up.
Despite reaching that conclusion, however, I wouldn't change a thing about my life. Why? Because every unanswered prayer, every unfulfilled wish, every broken road, brought me to this moment. A moment in which I can say I am truly, truly blessed. I am surrounded by love on a daily basis. I have a husband who moves heaven and earth to provide the opportunity for me to be at home to better care for him and our children. He has provided for me an absolutely lovely home in which I live. My children are growing into people I admire and like, independent of my relationship with them. My neighbors enrich my life in ways I can't begin to count. My extended family is as peaceful as I can ever remember it being. I've been given an opportunity to be the big sister my little sister seems to need, giving me and my children a connection to family we haven't had and truly need. If I don't know two of my brothers, well, I do know that they have wonderful lives that keep them fulfilled.
Our lives aren't perfect and I know this. Yes, we have bills to pay. Yes, the economy stinks. Yes, I have acne and grey hair and a butt that is much bigger than it was ten years ago. So what? Dust happens every day. So does laundry and dishes. So what?
It is easy to chronicle every thing that is wrong with our lives, but do you ever stop to think about how much is right with your life? Just how lucky you are to be where you are right now? I know no one's life is perfect, but I, for one, am exceedingly grateful for the life I have right this minute.
6 comments:
Nineteen years ago, I was recuperating from a D and C. I'd just had my third miscarriage. Hubby and I were devastated, because the doctor (who was extremely good) told us she just didn't think my body could carry a child to term. She had no idea why though. Six years ago, we found out why, I have Liden V, a blood clotting disorder that causes miscarriages. Doctors had no clue what it was in 1991, when #1 was born or 1992, when #2 was born or in 1997 when #3 was born. God handed me three miracles. Yup, I know I am blessed every single day.
Wow! Truly, truly blessings!
Always a great reminder. Thank you!
thank you soo much for your comment on my blog. You are too kind and I appreciate your great words of advice. Thanks again, your family is darling!
Remembering our blessings and God's faithfulness to us is something that we need to constantly keep in mind. It helps us be content, and helps us to remember that He is in our past as well as our future. Beautiful post.
Thank you, thank you, thank you...
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