How Important It Is to Cherish Every Day with Loved Ones
Lately I’ve been thinking about what I’d change if my time on earth were limited. I’d worry less about trivial, material things and spend more time with my children, my husband, my sisters, and my parents.
Some evenings I want to sew, but the kids are craving my attention. I tell myself, “Stop—spend time with the kids (they’re wonderful!), and you can sew tomorrow when they’re at daycare.”
I realize that I don’t need to search for some grand mission or purpose; I just need to be “good” in my current role. If you’re a mom, be a good mom; if you’re a doctor, be a good doctor. Be good here and now, not somewhere else or at some other time.
Sometimes I want more children, but I also recognize why I wouldn’t actually want that. People often picture parenting as an ideal experience, but when you face the reality—which can be harsh—it can lead to a deep depression when you realize it’s much harder than you imagined. It’s emotionally taxing, and it’s FOREVER! You will FOREVER worry about your child, strive to give them the best (and sometimes, to give something you first have to have it), and you will FOREVER need the moral strength to engage with your child and to dedicate your time to their upbringing (and they won’t always turn out the way you envision or want them to be). The health of your child plays a huge role in parenting—when they’re unwell, it’s a hundred times harder.
I live by this principle: do everything you can on the human level, then place it all in God’s hands. When I’m unsure how to handle a serious situation, I relax and say, “Not as I want, but as God wills.”
Everything will resolve itself in the best way possible. The key is to listen to the signs and not force events to happen. Pay attention to yourself; if something isn’t working out, perhaps it simply doesn’t belong in your life.
Iren
