Seasons: Raising Children

Just thinking...do the hard seasons really last longer than the carefree, easy seasons or does it just feel that way when I am in the midst of one? If I had kept a calender or better a moment by moment count over the past 20 plus years and added the tally, I am positive that the sunshine total would far outweigh cloudy times.

Things I would put in the sunshine column:

*the seconds that a newborn baby smiled at me during a 4 am feeding when I was so exhausted I could barely see

*catching a toddler eat peanut with her hands out of the jar

*babies smiling in their sleep

*my boys heading down the driveway with their fishing gear

*going in at night to make sure all is well before going to bed myself and finding a big, dirty dog snuggled up on the pillow with my son

*watching from the window as my son kisses the horse and hugs her

*seeing my oldest coming off the plane from a six month mission program

*the sound of my son's voice over the phone announcing he shot his first deer

*all eight of us eating a meal together

*hearing my children pray

*listening to my son explaining a revelation he received while reading the Word

*the look on another son's face when he got his drivers licence--something we all thought might never happen. He has autism.


The list is endless! All of the little moments etched in my memory bring much joy, reassurance and peace during the struggles. I have often asked God to burn a memory in my mind, I don't want to forget or overlook the little things. The big moments are planned, photographed and video taped. The unplanned joys are God's blessings during times of exhaustion, heartache, etc. Like sprinkles on ice cream.

James 1:2 reminds me to count everything as joy! The trails, hard times, EVERYTHING!.

Make a decision. Before the trials come, or in the middle of one, whatever they may be, determine, in the Name of Jesus, to find a glimpse of joy and sunshine in the midst of the storm. A bird sitting on the fence, a snow flake, a child laughing. Look for the the hint of happy. It will be there.

He is faithful.