i thought i'd share this remarkable poem i found tonight, on this eve before my brother and sister in law have their new baby girl (and i get a new beautiful niece!). i myself have one daughter, and two sons. the latter have certainly given me more surprises and challenges. the latter have been known to make me cry harder and longer. the latter have given me joys and frustrations. the latter has confused me to no end to where i have asked God to explain why i don't have just daughters, which i thought was a reasonable request, but a sweet daughter and then two very handsome (mischievious) cute (sometimes ornery 4 year old) adorable (knowing i have the preschool years up ahead before i know it) almost toddler. sigh. i don't know the answer. my little girl takes after me and i feel badly because she'll sigh and wish aloud she had a baby sister. i explained to her tonight that God gave mommy and daddy her two brothers because He thinks we will raise them in the way they should go and that they WILL treat her like a princess someday. they WILL honor her like the lady she is. they WILL learn from her and teach her as well. they WILL be friends and wonderful siblings. do you see how Daddy treats his sisters? Aunt Valerie and Aunt Christa? Does he love them? (Yes). Does he treat them with care? (Yes). See....it will happen someday that Buddy will not pick on you and want his own way all the time. Baby won't always get your stuff. The time will come when it's not life and death when you are just living with each other in the same house. The love is there, just......in a different form. i think tomorrow i will elaborate along with our science lesson.....the form of love is not the same, but it is there....we are discussing solid, liquid, and gas still....what kind of love is "solid," what kind of love is a "gas," what kind of love is a "liquid?" i wonder what she'll say. i think at this time, the love is random and spread apart from a preschool boy....that's "gaseous." the "liquid" love....maybe that's the baby. his love just goes all around to everybody no matter what. mommy and daddy's love is "solid"....it's stable. it's grounded. it's something that is very concrete. do you think a first grader could appreciate this story lesson? and what would be the same about these different forms of love....well, they are able to change. they are formable in some manner. they are all real. they are all given by God. i hope that encourages her. it encourages me. i am trying to be more excited to see how God conjured up this plan on giving us a girl and two boys. i think that'll be my first question to him whenever i see him in Heaven. my heart tightens about many things. i want to be able to show so much love to my children. they can never have too much. i have a lot to give. so does their daddy, my wonderful husband. and like i've heard some people say....."God equips the called. God doesn't call the equipped."
Motherhood - Joaquin Miller
(1839-1913)
For the mother that is also a lover of classic literature.
The bravest battle that ever was fought!
Shall I tell you where and when?
On the maps of the world you will find it not;
'Twas fought by the mothers of men.
Shall I tell you where and when?
On the maps of the world you will find it not;
'Twas fought by the mothers of men.
Nay not with the cannon of battle-shot,
With a sword or noble pen;
Nay, not with eloquent words or thought
From mouth of wonderful men!
With a sword or noble pen;
Nay, not with eloquent words or thought
From mouth of wonderful men!
But deep in a walled-up woman's heart -
Of a woman that would not yield,
But bravely, silently bore her part -
Lo, there is the battlefield!
Of a woman that would not yield,
But bravely, silently bore her part -
Lo, there is the battlefield!
No marshalling troops, no bivouac song,
No banner to gleam and wave;
But oh! those battles, they last so long -
From babyhood to the grave.
No banner to gleam and wave;
But oh! those battles, they last so long -
From babyhood to the grave.
Yet, faithful still as a bridge of stars,
She fights in her walled-up town -
Fights on and on in her endless wars,
Then silent, unseen, goes down.
She fights in her walled-up town -
Fights on and on in her endless wars,
Then silent, unseen, goes down.
Oh, ye with banners and battle-shot,
And soldiers to shout and paise!
I tell you the kingliest victories fought
Were fought in those silent ways.
And soldiers to shout and paise!
I tell you the kingliest victories fought
Were fought in those silent ways.
O spotless woman in a world of shame,
With splendid and silent scorn,
Go back to God as white as you came -
The Kingliest warrior born!
and a few photos to share...
boys WILL be boys. i cannot wait to see their character as they grow and mature....i certainly enjoy them greatly. i love them deeply. they are BOYS, gifts from God. and they have a beautiful, precious big sister..
enjoy your family...
pray for others' new beginnings...
thank the Lord for your blessings!
O spotless woman in a world of shame,
With splendid and silent scorn,
Go back to God as white as you came -
The Kingliest warrior born!
and a few photos to share...
boys WILL be boys. i cannot wait to see their character as they grow and mature....i certainly enjoy them greatly. i love them deeply. they are BOYS, gifts from God. and they have a beautiful, precious big sister..
enjoy your family...
pray for others' new beginnings...
thank the Lord for your blessings!
Oh Amy, we must have had days of similar motherly emotions! I'll pray for you, would you pray for me? Hang in there girl! You have God's blessing in your parenting, and that alone makes the battle already won!
Posted by: Susan Beth | 03/01/2010 at 09:52 PM
Ok...what a good teaching analogy you have there...states of matter and LOVE...and I bet that poem was written during the Civil War?!
LTTS
Posted by: LTTS | 03/02/2010 at 05:50 AM
ahh honey. your post made me all teary eyed. Hooray for your family!
Posted by: Erika | 03/02/2010 at 12:39 PM