Each Day is A GIFT

                                                      

 

Such a common saying. We know this already. I have blogged about it before! Our littles are a blessing, each day is a gift, enjoy and cherish it......its all been said. We all know it.
Then tragedy strikes. It finds our family. Our loved one. Our dear friends. Our community.
My last blog was about not living in fear. We see bad things all around us and instead of living in fear of them happening, we should be thankful for each day and live it to the fullest.
Well, today's blog is expanding on that a bit. Call it a part 2 if you will.

This week has been a very difficult one for me. This post is a difficult one to write. But its one I need to. Its a post we all need to read once in a while. Because, our gifts - our very precious blessings - become ordinary. They become annoyances. Our precious littles become frustrating. Our husbands or wives become one of many on our list of grievances.

This week, our dear friends have been suffering through something NO parent should ever, ever have to go through. One of their little miracles is fighting for her life. A week ago, it was just another long night with a baby - bottles, diapers, fussy afternoons. Now - they would give anything to have that back. They are holding on to every last bit of hope and have the whole country praying for a miracle.

Our community in Boston lost two of our finest. Just like that. Our heroes are gone. They went rushing in, not a thought of themselves. Didn't look back. So young - they left devastated families behind.
These two events have left me emotional empty. Hours I have cried and prayed for this little baby and her family. Disbelief I felt as I watched the fire and aftermath in Boston.

These are tragedies. They are devastating. This is a sad post to write - but there is a purpose behind this. So often we ask why. Why would this be allowed to happen. Why to these amazing people? Oh they are answers we just don't have and no amount of faith in the world makes it ok. So, can anything even remotely positive come out of it?

Well, I stopped yesterday - in a very frustrating moment with my littlest little. She doesn't have a ton of words yet and has taken to whining every command. Over. and Over. and Over. (This particular stage - while I adore her - drives me to the point of severe frustration. We all have kiddos who go through difficult stages. Newborns, toddlers, terrible 3's, pre adolescent, teenagers. If there hasn't been a stage yet - there will be, new moms, I promise.) Well, yesterday was a particularly rough day. I got her down from her high chair after 10 min of non stop whining (clearly I didn't serve her exactly what she was expecting) I went to walk away to take a breath - and I stopped. I reached down and picked her up and just held her.
I felt her little heart beating, smelled her baby fresh hair and kissed her sweet little neck. How precious. What a gift.  A gift I may not have tomorrow. A gift I have been given today.
There is no guarantee for tomorrow. Its not something we should expect, or think we deserve. Our children, our husbands, our parents, our relatives and our friends are all precious, precious gifts! Every morning we wake up is our own chance at a new day. A new, amazing gift of life.
When these tragedies strike - sickness, fires, plane crashes, death - it can really affect our hearts - our emotions. Why? Because we realize for that brief moment how precious each life.....and each day is. We realize that no tomorrow is certain. Life is fragile and not to be taken for granted.
So, should we walk around in fear? Terrified when our loved ones walk out the door? When they sneeze or cough?When we don't hear from them exactly when we should? 
Clearly not. Faith is something we need to develop and practice, and fear has no place in a peaceful, joyful life.

Nor should we forget how precious each day with them is. How perfectly lovely each wet baby kiss is. How grateful we should be for the pictures colored for us by sticky little hands. That the toys we trip over are reminders of the amazing gifts asleep in their beds. How our spouse's frustrating habits are simply a reminder that he is there. Asleep next to us. Walking by our side the next day.

So moms - pray with me for these families - as they walk through these difficult days, trying to come to terms with what they are going through.
And, then - stop. And thank the Lord for your life. No matter how frustrating, or stressful or truly difficult things may seem at this moment. You are awake. You have been given a new day. Your littles are sleeping sweetly in their beds, probably waking up soon. What an incredible gift. Take in their sweet smells, their giggles and their tears. Know that each moment with them is blessed. Love your husband. Call him, text him. Show him he is special and loved. Your family members that drive you crazy - they won't always be there.
 Don't forget to say I love you, tomorrow is not a guarantee, its a gift.