Those are the words that kept spinning in my head as I held Samuel tight as two nurses worked to get his annual Celiac lab draw. My sweet boy, who minutes ago was asking for a John Deere sticker, was now so incredibly sad and crying and telling them to be all done.
I hate this. It’s not fair.
I just wanted to tell them to stop, to pick up my sweet little one, and to race out of that Pediatric GI Clinic as fast as I could and to never ever ever have to bring him back for all those pokes and prods. And yet, I knew I could not. I knew I had to hold him and to keep him tight and to be the one to tell him that I loved him in the midst of this really awful hard thing. I knew that his health depends on these hard mothering moments.
Those are the moments that break at the mother’s heart.
When they’re born we picture the good – the first steps, smiles, and birthdays. We see bike rides around the block, picnics in the park, and bubbles blown in the backyard. Lovely, everyday, beautiful Hallmark worthy moments.
Yet, being a mother often means that we’re going to be the ones there in the really hard moments of life. The moments where I get an exhausted from crying little boy strapped safely in the carseat and give him an extra hug and then proceed to sit in the front and put my own head in my hands. When I sit there with tears in my own eyes outside a clinic, staring out the window as the sun streams in, and wish that none of this had to happen. Those are the hard moments in motherhood that make us strong and often jolt our perspective back into focus.
{There are mothers that have this level of strength every single day. You amaze me with your grace.}
And so, now, on a Tuesday morning, as I sit in my half freshly painted living room, I’ve thought about my day and my words that I write. And it comes down to this: cherish today.
Cherish today.
When those littles wake up and run up to you, knocking your coffee a bit, and they want and want and want, take a moment to step back and simply cherish it. Pull off the tired perspecive and look at your life through a cherish today perspective. Grab that 2 Minute Grateful List from yesterday and fill it out again today.
We need those cherish today moments to build us up for those days that exhaust.
Cherish today.
Even if life isn’t perfect, and the house is a bit messy, and you’re laundry is piled up high. Cherish it. The normal, everyday moments, are in fact, the beautiful moments of life that one wishes for during the hard moments. I remember just wanting normal, and yet in the midst of normal I forget how beautiful normal can be. And so, that is what I’m writing about today. Because I forgot. Again. I got so wrapped up in my own to-do list that I forgot the gift of normal in today.
Cherish today. Cherish normal.
It truly is a gift.
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10 comments
Yes cherish … such a big word and so important xxxx
Amen. Poor little Sammy… praying for him, and you.
There is a lab about 3 miles from our house where we can get my son’s blood drawn. (We go every 6 months. TTG still not in normal limits after nearly 2 years gluten free. Steadily decreasing each time, thankfully, but still elevated.) After 2 horrifying visits to that lab (they couldn’t find the vein and kept poking my sweet boy) we now drive 20 miles and pay to park downtown to go to another lab. Ms. Tara gets it in first try every time, over before you know it. Well worth the effort not to have my boy suffer! Prior to those 2 bad experiences he never cried or even teared up. Giving blood, getting his shots … no problem. Not so much anymore. (Sigh) It breaks this mommy’s heart.
There is a lab about 3 miles from our house where we can get my son’s blood drawn. (We go every 6 months. TTG still not in normal limits after nearly 2 years gluten free. Steadily decreasing each time, thankfully, but still elevated.) After 2 horrifying visits to that lab (they couldn’t find the vein and kept poking my sweet boy) we now drive 20 miles and pay to park downtown to go to another lab. Ms. Tara gets it in first try every time, over before you know it. Well worth the effort not to have my boy suffer! Prior to those 2 bad experiences he never cried or even teared up. Giving blood, getting his shots … no problem. Not so much anymore. (Sigh) It breaks this mommy’s heart.
Those mom growing moments are tough, but I learn so much once I am through them.
Poor little guy 🙁 When my son was 7 months old he had to have a PH study done due to severe reflux.. It involved me having to hold him down so that the doctor could put a tube up his nose and down his throat into his stomach where it stayed for 24 hours.. It was the worst thing having to hold him down whilst he screamed and threw himself around.. I don’t know who cried more.. Me or him!
Thank you for reminding me to Cherish the little things xx
You always inspire me and today’s post is no exception. And, I definitely need to cherish the little things more, the things life is made up of.
Hope all is well in your corner of the world. Hugs to you!
What comfort these words give! Praying in Seattle!
Psalms 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
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Thank you for this beautiful reminder. Blessings to you and your beautiful boy.
Definitely some wise words, there 🙂 🙂 🙂 Sometimes I have to choose to be grateful, cherish the moment even when I don’t feel like it…and I’ve found that my emotions will usually follow 🙂 🙂 I really admire you as a mom and all you’re doing for your kids, especially for your sweet little boy 🙂 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂