Sunday, September 7, 2008

Greener grass...

Sieze the day...carpe diem...embrace the present...
Wow, that's something that has been hard for me to grasp since becoming a mom! While I've always tried to survive every twist and turn that my husband and I have experienced along the way, I can't say that I've actually embraced them. I've tried to do a good job at my role as a wife and mother, but have I loved every minute of it? Heavens, no! How many times have I sat with my husband over coffee and complained about my life, starting every other sentence with, "I just wish...", or "If only..." It's true that the grass is always greener on the other side of...whatever side it is we're on. Life would definitely be better if we only had...more energy? more money? more time? more date nights? more organization? more patience? The list could go on and on...
There's a song that came out this year by Trace Adkins (yes, the country dude from the Celebrity Apprentice) called, "You're going to miss this," and, as cheesy as it sounds, I have that song in my head at least once every couple of days. Have I have spent so much mental energy wishing time away, even the challenging times, that I've missed the joy to be found and the lessons to be learned because I'm so anxious to get out of the moment? Yikes!
To cut to the chase, by the grace of God, I'm learning to embrace the moment. Yes, it's hard having two babies under two, but it's also pretty amazing how fast this special time goes by. And sure, it kind of stinks to be in a house that is smaller than I'd like, with several projects to be done. But I'm embracing the simplicity. It's not fun to be in the "get out of debt", budgeting phase, but I'm embracing the challenge and the peace that I'm doing the right thing. And homeschooling is just downright frustrating sometimes. But all of my babies are here in the same house with me for another year...what a gift! It may sound like a simple concept, but when considering my attitudes toward life's challenges in the past, it's a pretty revolutionary idea! God, help me to look down at my own lush green grass beneath my half-polished toes!

3 comments:

Maria Santangelo-Dunets said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maria Santangelo-Dunets said...

Yo Heath!! You're soul and mind are full of wisdom and inspiration. It is a blessing to know such a beautiful woman. Kahlil Gibran has written: "You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth." and on love he says: "But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips."

I feel that this love and thankfullness can relate to children and marriage. I pray that God will continue to give you strength and an amazing testimony to others. I hear you about the "greener grass" too. God has been teaching me to be satisfied with "the now". Otherwise (you are right) I will miss some of lifes sweetest blessings. Love and miss you girl!! --Maria

Julie said...

Hey Heather! You have a blog! I just started one too!
This is too funny, one of my first posts is so similar to this...I guess we all go through some form of this "figuring it all out" stuff...
I see that you're all doing well! We are too, tell the family hi from us!
Love, Julie
Oh, and PS- the first time I heard that song I cried... it's something that goes through my head on a regular basis too, especially on those days where I just want to have a break...