Wow are there a lot of things we can be focused on in the world. Especially this time of year.
This week I have been stressing out about Christmas decorations. And Mae’s sleeping patterns. I’ve been trying to figure out how to manage all of our Christmas shows/pageants/recitals. I’ve been exhausted.
Just last night I was worried because while all of our Christmas decorations are up, our house is a disaster. And I have two Amazon packages that haven’t come yet. And I still need to go out and get Magoo some snow pants.
There are just so very many things to concern myself with. Some of them are big, and some of them really don’t matter at all. (Cluttered counter I am thinking of you.)
But then all of a sudden you find yourself in the middle of hundreds of people. They are all huddled around one little girl with a tumor in the wrong place who is singing a song about fighting hard. Her friends are hugging her. Your daughter who is only a year younger is up there with some of her friends. You’re surrounded by strangers and friends and acquaintances.
And all of a sudden you realize that there is only one single reason why the other little girl is the one with the brain tumor and not your little girl. You realize there is only one reason why her parents have the sad eyes while yours still light up at the sight of your children.
But no. Wait.
There isn’t any reason.
There isn’t any reason at all.
I know there’s a grand purpose to all of it, but according to what we know on this side of the veil, it’s all random. And it could happen to any of us.
There’s very little you can do to help in these situations. You can pray and donate money. You can provide help in the tangible ways that they need.
But I think perhaps besides those two, the greatest thing we can all do is appreciate what we have. We can love our children hard. We can savor moments, even the ones that hardly feel like savoring.
Because temper tantrums and dirty laundry and too many engagements are the luxuries of worries. Some are dealt harsher hands, and what a slap in the face it must be for those dealt tragedy to see those of us with kinder hands dismissing them or taking them for granted.
I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. All I can do is lie down in bed tonight and thank God (really and honestly thank God) that my house is full of all of my little girls and my husband. That for at least the time being, we are whole and happy.
The greatest insult to all of our blessings is to let them pass away without ever being truly grateful.
And if you have a moment, please say a prayer for a little girl who has a big battle ahead of her. And pray for her family and friends. And please, pray for a miracle.
I do believe they are out there for the taking.