When you are up for the third time at 4am, that means that you have a healthy, growing baby boy.
When you have a pup that farts in your face as you’re trying to fall asleep, that means you have a loyal friend that you almost lost over Christmas due to a health scare. She’s still with us and her digestive tract is…um…working again.
When you have a disagreement with your spouse over how many hours they are spending at work, or working at home, that means your spouse has a job that helps provide for your family and put a roof over your head.
When you forget part of your son’s bottle at home, remember that he’s getting breast milk from you or Aunt Katie and that’s the coolest thing ever.
When you forget a pump part at home, remember that means you are able to provide breast milk for your baby far better than you could for your first baby.
When students ask you to sign their drop slip for band, that means you have a job, your income is not based on how many are in the program, and you still have huge groups of great students to work with.
When you accidentally jam a q-tip in your daughter’s ear and it starts to bleed, that means you have an amazing doctor who pulled a later night at the office, allowing you to sneak in the back door before she left for home.
When aforementioned daughter gets up for the second time in the night asking to snuggie in your bed, that means you have a healthy daughter who loves you and wants to be close to you (but we still put her back in her bed).
When you look back on these sleep-deprived days and the trivial things that happen, keeping your day from running smoothly, remember that these things in your life are speaking of the blessings that are on the other side of the coin. We are safe. We are healthy. We have a roof over our head and food in our tummies (though I think the baby may also have a tapeworm in his since he’s always up for a meal). When you feel woefully inadequate to parent these little people, remember that that’s where God comes in and fills the gaps. And with His help, these little people will open their hearts to Him and see that though Mommy & Daddy aren’t perfect, they sure are trying hard to be examples of love, forgiveness and grace.
