Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Real Life

Feeling Small

Lost

We have had a tough few weeks. Runny noses, puking, sore throats, tantrums, whining, anger and exhaustion have been more present than I'd like to admit lately. Add 2 feet of snow and you can guess how I have been feeling. Trapped comes to mind. It seems that there are stages with children that are difficult and then as soon as you are about to call it quits, they change and you've entered a stage that you never want to leave. One that is complete with "Mommy, I love you so much I can't even believe your my mommy". However, we've left the season of I love you's and replaced it with the earlier mentioned behaviors (including myself in the list list).

I saw these picture as I was looking through photos trying to come up with some for a picture wall I am working on. It captured how I felt. Small and lost. I was about to include "alone" in that list, but then remembered that that is far from true. Not only do I have a God who is walking right with me through hard days (even if I don't feel like he is), I have a husband who loves me and encourages me. A mom who listens to me and understands how long the days can be. Friends who don't judge, but love me and love my little stinker. Friends who are even willing to look after him for me. Really, I have it so very good. The ordinary days are truly the best ones. Read this quote the other day and felt inspired by it.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day, I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."

Then this morning, I listened to this message and my heart was encouraged after too many days days of feeling discouraged.

Anyways, here is the real me, just thought I would share what has been on my heart this morning. The good days and the bad. Real Life. Hope it encourages you readers, whoever you are :)

5 comments:

  1. Hi Dana....the real you.....the real you is a thoughtful, tender, loving, gracious person who knows what it is to have hard days, lonely days, days where simply the only thing to do is persevere! That you do with strength and determination. I love your heart and the ability you have to express your thoughts and feelings. I love your reliance upon God and His faithful goodness to you.
    I am so humbled to be the mom of such a lovely young woman, mother and wife as you are. You truly are a blessing to me and likely to many, many others!
    And I love the pictures of little Liam and the very big tree. How true it is that so often we feel small, insignificant but God is there looking at you, just as you were with your camera looking at Liam.....but He goes farther and enters into our life, and stands with us under all the pressures that come to bear on us!
    Thanks for all your postings!
    love
    Your mommy.....who loves you!and wishes that there could be an ordinary day with you being 4 and sitting in a mall,falling off the chair at least 5 times eating blueberry muffins, but only the tops! and telling me lots of stories about your nursery school!

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  2. I don't know what moves me more: your post or your mom's response. God bless you both. And thank you for blessing me.

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  3. Danes you are such great mom! love all you (and your mom wrote:) I keep reminding myself that this is a job a career in a company I will never leave...everyday I am learning, character training and seeing each day as the gift God has given and what joys I can find in that.

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  4. Aw Danes, being a mom can be isolating at times as you never get breaks during the day (including for the bathroom I am finding out, ha ha). It is more emotionally draining than anyone can prepare you for, but the most incredible thing ever! Just look at the fantastic little man that Liam is becoming (complete with the tantrums, snot and other lovely extras) and know that all the goodness in him is from yours and Brian's love and nurturing.
    When you're in the moment it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I bet you'll look back later in life and think fondly about these crazy times with Liam. This could just be the season of the "peanut butter and grape sandwich".

    Love Ally xox

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  5. Hi Dana! Along the lines of what you wrote, here's a great C.S.Lewis quote that has been so helpful to me:

    "The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s “own,” or “real” life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life God is sending one day by day; what one calls one’s “real life” is a phantom of one’s own imagination. This at least is what I see at moments of insight: but it’s hard to remember it all the time."
    Love,
    Joanne(Kerr)

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