This picture.This is the epitome of a young family isn't it? It's the type of picture you look back on 20 years from now and say how cute it is but in the here and now, you feel miserable with how life is working out. You think...I have no time! I have no privacy. We have no money! Our house is a mess. I wish we had nice furniture. I'm tired!! What is a vacation? I thought things would be different.
I wish I could get it through my head that this is normal! This is good! It's okay to be broke, to have old worn-out furniture especially if it means I am able to spend my life with my children teaching them things that matter. Having young children around is wonderful! Contrary to what much of the culture tells me, like when I go to Walmart with my 3 beautifully behaved children, I get those little comments like "You have your hands full!" with the little wink as if to say, "Got stuck with all the kids today? You poor thing!" My oldest son is smart enough to know what they mean. I think it's down right rude. I don't really know what to say to them, without being rude back.
I look at this picture and think..."oh someday I will see this picture and yearn for these days." How do I hold on to them now? How do I live fully in the moment with happiness and joy, without the nagging guilt that I am not more successful in the world's eyes? More importantly, can I live today smiling in the faces of my children, showing them that I love them, that I love being home with them, so that when they are grown I won't regret how I wished their childhood away?
I won't wish those happy little faces away! Heaven forbid! As my Grandma always said, "This is the best time of your life". I would rather be living life in the clutter with my little cheerful comrades than sitting in a clean, mansion looking at dusty photographs regretting the years I wasted wishing them away.
Philippians 4:11-13
For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psalm 127
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
