Sunday, February 16, 2014

Life's "Hidden" Blessings

This post has been swirling around in my head for about a week now.  We have had some crazy weather this winter and most recently got 16 + inches of snow dumped on us in a short amount of time.  It was nice having everyone home and "snowed" in together but by the next day we were all a little stir crazy and had some severe cabin fever.  I have seen a lot of Facebook posts begging for winter to end and spring to hurry up and get here.  I have even read a blog or two where people are begging for better weather, schools to be open and the stomach bug to go away!!!

So, I am here to remind you that all of these things are just life's "hidden" blessings.  How is this?  In the time I have read all the posts about the bad weather and stomach bugs, I have also read blogs and postings about the following:  children fighting cancer, a car accident where a pregnant mother is fighting for her life,  a young mother killed while out for her morning jog, and numerous young children fighting rare illnesses or dealing with profound disabilities that can make any mother "crazy".  This, my friends, is a reminder. 

A reminder that when your kids are running around pulling the blinds, stealing the remotes, vomiting all over the floor, fighting, crying, yelling, throwing food, singing, laughing, loving and so much more, that you are blessed. You are blessed by these moments in your life. These moments mean your children are home with you, not sick in a hospital.  That you are with your kids, here in this moment to watch it all unfold.  Every time you get that need to scream at your kids (I am the first to admit, I do and I have) try to take a step back and appreciate that moment.  It is time you will never get back.

I am the first to admit I often complain and jump at my kids when were are snowed in and tired of being stuck in the house. I even wished the stomach bug away in January when it was just moving from one of us to the other.  However, when I sit down and start reading the daily struggles that others (many of whom I have never met) are dealing with, I feel guilty.  Guilty that I even complained about the stomach bug, or that my one year old daughter is terrorizing the house, and her brothers.  I am guilty.  But today I took a moment, that moment, to stop and thank God for the "hidden" blessings in my life.  Did you?