Fair warning: Really sappy post ahead. Stay tuned for more plain old me in the next one….
I knew my parents loved me. But the day I held Haley in my arms for the first time, it hit me deep in my heart…my parents loved me as much as I loved this child. A huge love that was bigger than myself. The kind that made my heart feel too big…like I was the Grinch on Christmas Day. And I was amazed by it.
See, I love children…I’m a teacher, for Pete’s sake. I had seven nieces and nephews by the time I became a parent, and I love them all sooo much. Still, it surprised me just how much I loved Haley. Wow, my parents loved me that much?
Fast forward two years. Because the Lord heard me when I said I wanted my kids to be two years apart…Haley and Garrett’s due dates were the exact same day, two years apart. It’s true. Be careful what you ask for.
When Garrett was born, I had that same post-Grinchy-feeling. That same heart-swelling. So much love for this tiny baby. But it was different this time, and here’s why….
As I sat in that hospital room and held him, I realized that the God of all the universe had let His baby boy die in order to save me.
Me.
The one who didn’t deserve it.
Before I was even born.
Before I chose to love Him back.
And He did that for all of us.
He did that for you.
Before.
I sat there holding Garrett and thought about knew that I would give my life to keep him from harm. I could not imagine loving anyone else enough to let him die in order for them to live.
I don’t know how that sounds. Maybe it sounds terrible. But it’s how I felt. And I was humbled beyond words.
God loves me that much? Wow. That is love that can’t be measured.
Fast forward exactly two more years. Because the Lord has an AWESOME sense of humor.
Baby #3. What in the world would I discover this time? The cure for cancer? Who really killed JFK? How to get out grass stains?
I remember anticipating the great epiphany to come.
And then…nothing. Well, not nothing. I mean, that Rees was adorable. And yes, Grinch Day cubed, and all that. But no hospital-room-inspiration. No angelic lights coming through the window.
It took a couple of days. But it hit me when we got home.
Because here’s what I learned with the birth of my third child: My husband and I were OUTNUMBERED. 😀
Prior to Rees being born, we could each take a kid and do what needed to be done. But now…let’s just say I gained a whole new respect for single parents.
So the great lesson was more of a reminder (that I needed right between the eyes) that we couldn’t do this alone. That we shouldn’t try.
That the good Lord is there waiting and wanting to be invited to be the center of our lives.
To guide us along every step.
To be there…
When they won’t just go to sleep already.
When he sticks a lego up his nose. And macaroni.
When the people who drove up to Walmart at the same time you did have already gotten their one item and are coming back to the car by the time you get everybody unlatched and ready to go inside.
And when you’re outnumbered.
Don’t worry.
He’s got this.
