Keep Breathing

When my oldest daughter gets flooded with big emotions, I remind her to stop and breathe.

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It’s been a long time since I’ve written anything, but not for lack of wanting to. We’re in the middle of a season of navigating some different challenges and unknowns. An average given day is full of school meetings, doctor appointments, follow-up visits, big toddler feelings, and don’t forget the snacks. So many snacks… why are they always so hungry?

I’m caught up in a wave of just trying to survive the day. Counting the hours until bedtime. Counting how many days it’s been since my youngest had a bowel movement. How many days is too many days? I second guess myself.

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I forget to count my blessings. I forget to stop and breathe and thank God for these two precious gifts.

I’m so focused on striving to meet their daily needs that I fail to remember that their one true need is to know their Creator.

What does parenting look like in light of eternity? How do I show up and show them Christ in the midst of this messy life?

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I tend to despair/worry/catastrophize when my children struggle. When the doctors don’t have the answers. When I’m telling them the same thing for the 500th time.

I am a broken record, yet somehow still have yet to absorb the words I’ve so often directed at my child.

Stop and take a deep breath.

Stop and breathe and remember the same God who made the stars fashioned each of these children uniquely in his image, for his own glory, and loves them more than I ever could.

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In the middle of a chaotic morning, there is this: I hear the baby cry as I’m finishing up my morning routine. My older daughter slips into her sister’s room, and I peak around the corner. I glimpse her there, sitting in the rocking chair facing her sister’s crib, children’s Bible open, whispering “God loves you sooooooo much” to her little sister.

A reminder for this tired mama’s heart.