I wish I could be there today to tell you HAPPY BIRTHDAY in person. I'd give you the biggest hug ever and tell you everything will be okay. I'd tell you I know how hard you try to do the best you can at all the million things you juggle every day. You try to be the best Mom, manager, sister, chauffer, friend, nurse, wife, coordinator, daughter, cook, aunt, neighbor, volunteer, and whatever else you find yourself tackling. You take care of so many people (including the 4-legged ones), and usually put yourself last on the list.
I know this has been such a hard week already, and it's difficult to find anything to be happy about, but I am praying that God will bless you in some way. Into every life a little rain must fall, and sometimes it floods. Remember to hold onto your faith in God and be grateful for all the things that really matter. Nobody can ignore the hard times, but with Christ we will survive them and learn from them. Remember what Papaw used to say, "This too shall pass." Things will always get better. The important thing is to rejoice in all of it--the good and the bad. Does that sound crazy? It is true. God is good, but you'll never know how good until you give him control, and sometimes we don't do that until we find there's nothing left to control. His power is perfected in our weakness. (See 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 and Psalm 37:3-8)
I love you so very much and on this day 32 years ago, you changed my life. That's when I began to be the person God wanted me to be. I didn't see that for a long time and it wasn't always easy. I made a lot of detours, but the thing that always brought me back was you and Lissa. No matter what else I accomplish in my life, being your Mom is by far the most cherished and important job God ever blessed me with. Happy Birthday precious girl, I love you always.
Great advice Mama! I don't think it is crazy to rejoice in the bad, as well as the good. I usually word it a little differently in my head... maybe embracing the bad. The hard scary stuff overwhelms us all at times and it is sometimes difficult to admit that we're weak and ask for help. My faith in God has been continuously encouraged and enriched throughout my life because of you and Angie. You two are the constants for me in an ever-changing world. Angie, if you read this... I'm grateful every day that you were born to my Mama and I was blessed to have you to guide me through life. Mama used to have a picture posted in Alabama of a kitten with a rope... it read, "When you feel like you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on!" It doesn't have to get better overnight... just take a breath and have peace in knowing that the future holds anything you can imagine. Embrace/Rejoice in the bad, like Mama said and know that the good is still there (just a bit overshadowed). Your kids, my niece and nephews, are very blessed to have you for their Mama! I'm very proud of how you handle life... with an active role at controlling your inner-Mamaw and the same grace and poise that made you an amazing ballerina.
ReplyDeleteI'm speechless..and emotional. Thank you both and I love ya'll so much.
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